My husband, please respect yourself. The princess is here to grab the bride.

The newly planted seedlings floated up a little after one night.

When Bai Shaoqiu arrived at the edge of the field, the old farmer was bending over to plant crops.

The big yellow dog barked a few times, ran to another ridge of the field, and looked at the strange boy with a confused look in his eyes.

The old farmer heard the dog barking, turned his head and saw the young man in blue squatting on the edge of the field.

He shook his head and smiled, thinking that such a young man who had never done housework must have never seen how crops were cultivated.

They eat the best food without knowing where it comes from.

He probably doesn't even know what these seedlings are.

The old farmer withdrew his gaze and continued to check the floating seedlings in the field.

Bai Shaoqiu squatted at the edge of the field and observed it.

It’s true that Xingguo’s farming technology is quite good.

The water in the fields is only about an inch deep, which is just right.

It's just that the row and plant spacing seems a bit dense, but this doesn't mean that this method will affect the yield.

After all, I don’t know what the rice seeds are like.

It certainly cannot be high-yield hybrid rice, so denser row and plant spacing may actually increase yield.

There were definitely no pesticides or chemical fertilizers in that era. Apart from weather and pest factors, the most important factor affecting rice yield was the soil's fertility.

When Dongfang Changying and Shisan Niang arrived outside the Pear Garden, they happened to see Bai Shaoqiu rolling up his sleeves.

He stretched out his arm and dug a piece of mud from the field!

"…What is he doing?"

Dongfang Changying was also confused, "I don't know."

"This son-in-law... is quite interesting!"

Dongfang Changying smiled.

I thought he was quite interesting indeed——

Scholars usually don't like this kind of menial work!

They would use poems and articles to praise farmers, but they would almost instinctively draw a clear line between themselves and farmers!

That is the nobleness of scholars, the idea rooted in their hearts that all other things are inferior except reading!

They would think that it is natural for farmers to farm, because farmers who farm have never been to school and cannot read, and farming is their life!

Is Bai Shaoqiu considered a scholar now?

He was actually playing in the mud by the field!

What about before this?

Before this, he was the son of Bai's Bookstore. Although he was a businessman, and his status was lower than that of farmers, he was rich!

Merchants only seem to have a low social status, but they actually live a very good life.

Because they can use money and interests as a bond to collude with officials!

They also look down on farmers.

They will not get close to farmers.

This husband seems to be an outsider.

Bai Shaoqiu didn't notice that there were two girls outside the Pear Garden looking at him curiously. He was still looking at the handful of mud in his hand.

This handful of soil is lighter in color, which means that the soil is no longer fertile.

But it is impossible to determine whether a field is lacking in fertilizer by just looking at a handful of soil at the edge of the field.

So, under the astonished gazes of Dongfang Changying and Shisan Niang, Bai Shaoqiu washed his hands, took off his shoes, and rolled up his trouser legs...

He stepped into the field and walked towards the old farmer!

Shisanniang opened her mouth wide: "Uh, my son-in-law... went to the fields!"

Dongfang Changying was also very surprised: "That's not right, he doesn't even know Uncle Zhao, what is he doing in the fields?"

"Princess, could it be that my son-in-law can do farm work?"

“…This is impossible!”

As they were looking at him in surprise, Bai Shaoqiu came to the old farmer.

The old farmer had straightened up and was looking at him in surprise:

"Sir...what are you doing?"

"Uncle, let me take a look."

What's so good about this?

It’s not like a three-year-old child naturally likes playing in the water.

“…What are you looking at?”

Bai Shaoqiu bent down and inserted one arm into the field.

Entered the mud...about a foot.

He dug out a handful of mud from the depths, and the color of the mud was still light yellow.

"This field has been planted for this season and it's time to take care of it."

The old farmer was stunned for a moment, because this piece of land really needed to be taken care of after being planted for this season.

He was very curious and asked:

"Why do you think this field needs to be cultivated?"

"Look, the soil of a fertile rice field should be dark, but this field is already light brown."

He put the handful of mud in his hand under his nose and sniffed it, then said:

"The smell of rot in this soil is very weak, which is another sign of soil fertility loss."

Bending down to put the mud into the field, and washing his arms, Bai Shaoqiu stood up and said with a smile:

"Fertile soil has a deeper, looser layer, unlike tilled soil."

“Dry farming is like incense ash, and water farming is like sugaring.”

"Poor fields have soil that sticks to the plow, making it difficult to till. It's like 'knocking makes a hole, hoeing makes a crack.'"

“You can also look at the water quality in the fields.”

"Look, uncle, the water in this field is clear and colorless, and there are almost no bubbles in the field, which is also a sign of lean soil."

Bai Shaoqiu didn't notice the old man's shocked look. He looked at the field and said,

"Be more careful."

"Watch out for what?"

"I don't know about other fields, but just speaking of this field... it doesn't retain water very well, I mean it probably needs more irrigation."

"Also... be aware that it may develop dead seedlings."

The old farmer was stunned when he heard this. "What are stunted seedlings?"

"Oh, the seedlings are growing slowly, are small, have old and rusty roots, don't grow new roots, have short nodes, and have small, thick, dark green leaves."

The old farmer was stunned. He looked at the rice seedlings in the field and said, "Sir, it's not that serious, is it?"

Bai Shaoqiu retracted his gaze and looked at the old farmer with a faint smile:

"I hope not. We'll know the result in a month or so."

"...Then how to deal with it if it happens?"

"Apply the first fertilizer to the seedlings seven days after transplanting... organic fertilizer mixed with wood ash."

"Sir, what is organic fertilizer?"

Bai Shaoqiu just stood in the field and gave the old farmer a science lecture.

He recalled the knowledge from his previous life and, considering the low level of productivity in ancient times, tried to explain it as simply and understandably as possible.

Dongfang Changying and Shisan Niang were standing a little far away and could vaguely hear something.

They didn't leave, and their eyes were filled with more surprise.

After half an hour, the old farmer's laughter could be heard from the fields:

"Thank you so much for your generous teaching, young master. I have learned a lot... From now on, I will do as you say!"

"May I ask your surname, sir?"

"Ah, my last name is Bai."

"Thank you, Mr. Bai!"

"No, no, no, it's me who should thank you! What's your name, father-in-law?"

"My humble surname is Zhao."

"Oh, Uncle Zhao, I'll come to your house someday if I have time."

Uncle Zhao quickly bowed and said, "This...Mr. Bai doesn't despise me, of course I'm happy."

"What's there to dislike? I'm leaving now. I'll come talk to you about farming some other day."

"Okay, Mr. Bai, slow down."

Bai Shaoqiu walked back to the edge of the field, still with his trouser legs rolled up and barefoot, carrying a pair of shoes, he came to the outside of the Pear Garden.

Dongfang Changying just watched him coming, and the joy on his face became more and more intense.

"Can you farm?"

Bai Shaoqiu grinned: "I understand a little bit!"