The eldest sister-in-law became rich by farming in the mountains

"Of course." Xu Yingtao said with a smile.

When she learned about the yield of the fields here some time ago, she began to think about researching fertilizers.

As a last-place student at the Agricultural University, she knew that grain production was low in ancient times, but those were all statistics from textbooks and were far less shocking than what she saw with her own eyes.

She did not ask for the fertilizer she made to increase the crop yield to 1,000 kilograms per mu like in modern times. Even if it was only an extra 100 kilograms, it would be enough to give the villagers another way to make a living.

But she was not a nerd with a photographic memory after all. In addition, it had been three years since she graduated, and she had long since returned much of the knowledge she had learned to her teachers. Therefore, after several days of deep thought, she could barely remember a few methods of making homemade fertilizers that did not require extraction vessels or inorganic compounds such as alum and saltpeter.

One is urea fertilizer, and the raw materials only need livestock and poultry manure, plant straw, and kitchen waste.

One is ammonium sulfate gypsum mixed fertilizer, the raw materials are urine, lime, and water, it couldn't be simpler.

Both fertilizers are very suitable for top dressing of rice and wheat, and their cost is extremely low. They are perfect for use in poor villages like Nanxi Village.

As for other fertilizers such as phosphorus fertilizers and potassium fertilizers, it is even simpler. For example, wood ash is an excellent potassium fertilizer, while egg shells and animal bones collected and ground into powder are excellent phosphorus fertilizers.

But inorganic fertilizers alone are not enough. Not only will they cause soil compaction, they will also inhibit the reproduction of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. At this time, organic fertilizers are needed to maximize the effect of improving the soil and increasing soil fertility.

After Xu Yingtao went through all the methods she had learned of making homemade organic fertilizer, she finally locked on soybeans.

To be precise, it is bean dregs.

Simply mix bean dregs with rice husks, sawdust, dry leaves and other dry materials, pile them up, and turn them over regularly. Generally, in two to three months, you can form nutritious organic fertilizer.

However, when facing Village Chief Zheng, she would never say such "crazy words" as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic, inorganic, etc. She just simply described the steps of making bean dregs compost and other fertilizers, and promised that if her method could not increase crop yields, she would not only compensate the Zheng family for all their losses, but also purchase all their grain at a price five cents per catty higher than the market price.

The reason for making such a promise was that Xu Yingtao was certain that, apart from the Zheng family, no one else would believe in her method of fertilizing the fields.

In the eyes of farmers, fields and food are their lifeblood. Without absolute certainty, they will never rashly use their own crops for experiments.

But the Zheng family is different.

The Zheng family has accepted her kindness and has her backing them up, so it would be unreasonable and emotional for them to refuse.

Her simple and rough way of communication directly plunged the Zheng family into silence.

But I have to say, it does work.

Although Village Chief Zheng had a lot of questions, after hearing Xu Yingtao's bold promise, he swallowed all his doubts and confusions and turned around to persuade Xu Yingtao.

"Cherry, please stop talking about buying grain. We are not unreasonable people. Don't worry, I will try the method you mentioned to fertilize the fields. If the harvest is good, it is your credit. If the harvest is not good, I will never blame you."

Others followed suit.

As they were talking, Xiao Zhou came out of the kitchen quickly, holding a steamer, and greeted them with a smile: "Come, come, eat first, and chat while you eat. Thanks to the cherries, we can also taste the taste of new rice tonight."

In the past, unless it was a New Year's banquet, her mother-in-law would never let anyone touch the fine grains at home. But when she saw Xu Yingtao coming, she hurriedly asked her to steam rice and cook bacon.

At that time, she also whispered to confirm: "Mom, is it just for the cherries, or does our whole family get a share?"

Mrs. Zhou said angrily, "Stupid, she is embarrassed to eat the steamed cherries she was given."

It was rare for Xiao Zhou to be criticized by her mother-in-law, but she was not angry at all and went into the kitchen happily.

Just as she put the steamer on the table, her eldest daughter Zheng Yan came over with a bowl of chopped bacon. She placed the meat in front of Xu Yingtao and winked at her in a friendly manner.

Xu Yingtao smiled back, but saw Zheng Yan's eyes suddenly light up and her cheeks flushed, and the word "excited" was almost written on her forehead.

Xu Yingtao: “?”

What do you mean?

Apart from the last time she came to Zheng's house for dinner, she rarely saw this unmarried girl. This was only the second time they met.

But the little girl was obviously a little too enthusiastic towards her.

Xu Yingtao didn't understand why, but Mrs. Zhou knew the reason clearly.

She waved to her granddaughter, made room between herself and Xu Yingtao, and said with a smile, "You keep talking about your sister Yingtao every day. Come and sit next to her."

Although Zheng Yan looked embarrassed, she moved very quickly. In just two or three steps, she walked around to Xu Yingtao and sat down. The corners of her mouth were almost raised to the sky.

Seeing this, others couldn't help but laugh too.

Mrs. Zhou explained, "Don't blame Yingtao. It's because your uncles and aunts praise you endlessly every day. This girl heard it and kept saying that she wanted to visit you, but she was afraid to disturb you."

Zhao had already stood up and went to the kitchen to fetch the bowl. Upon hearing this, she shouted, "That's still not as much as mother's praise!"

Mrs. Zhou showed a rare embarrassment on her face, and glared at her second daughter-in-law who came out of the kitchen: "You are the only one who talks too much!"

Xu Yingtao suddenly understood.

So you already have fans?

She looked at Zheng Yan carefully again.

The baby fat on the little girl's face has not faded yet, her round face is flushed, and her big eyes curve into crescents when she smiles. It can be seen that she is well taken care of by her family.

Being stared at by her idol, Zheng Yan's already rosy little face instantly turned as red as an apple on a tree.

She said shyly and sweetly: "Sister Cherry, I also want to go to your house to help with the work, is that okay?"

No one can resist a sweet girl, not even Xu Yingtao.

"Of course." Xu Yingtao was more than happy to accept the offer, and said with a smile, "I will pay you 30 wen a day, and I will pay you once a month."

Zheng Yan opened her eyes wide, full of disbelief.

Xiao Zhou hurriedly said, "Cherry, you can't do that!"

"I'm just going to help, why do I need to pay you for it?" Mrs. Zhou also looked disapproving.

Xu Yingtao said seriously: "Not only should we pay Yan'er, but we should also pay Grandma and Auntie. There is no reason for you to work for nothing."

In case the Zheng family members were stubborn and refused to listen, Xu Yingtao hurriedly pulled the basket on the table in front of her and said with a smile: "I was so busy talking that I forgot that there were two bowls of braised food. They are not good dishes. Please don't dislike them."

As she spoke, she lifted the lid of the bowl, and a rich aroma instantly filled the air. The Zheng family almost forgot what they were going to say and came closer to sniff.

"What is this? How can it smell so good!" Zhao smacked her lips and felt like she was about to drool.

However, Xiao Zhou saw through the reddish-brown glossy color and exclaimed, "Cherry, this couldn't be the pig offal you bought?"

"Auntie, you have good eyesight!" Xu Yingtao gave her a thumbs up.