Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

Sun Wenfang instructed his servant to watch the carriage at the village entrance, and then led Wu Yong forward.

Along the way, Sun Wenfang and his group looked at the surrounding houses. There wasn't a single dilapidated thatched hut. This village was much richer than other villages!

"Your village looks nice!"

Zhang Wenbo humbly replied, "Not at all! It's all thanks to the adults that we are able to live and work in peace and contentment here."

Sun Wenfang laughed and said, "What a wonderful place to live and work in peace and contentment!"

Zhang Wenbo smiled and continued leading them to the farmland, pointing out the rice paddies and pastures below.

Sun Wenfang looked down at the golden rice paddies below, and the sight was truly delightful!

"Isn't this wasteland? How come you can plant crops in the first year?"

Zhang Wenbo cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency, this deserted village was actually inhabited decades ago, and the land by the river should have been their fertile farmland. After we cleared the land, we found that the soil quality was quite good, so we tried planting rice. Who would have thought that we would have a harvest this year!"

Sun Wenfang glanced at Zhang Wenbo and asked, "Is that so?"

"I heard that your rice can be harvested before March. Is there some secret to it?"

How can we explain this? Blaming it on a deity seems a bit far-fetched, and to be honest, revealing my younger sister's involvement will definitely cause her trouble. It's a tough situation!

Zhang Wenbo looked uneasy and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well, the students don't know either. I was teaching the children to read when the rice was planted, so I really don't know how it was planted."

Sun Wenfang thought to herself, "What a bookworm! He comes from a farming family, how come he doesn't care about farming at all?"

He waved his hand, "Alright! Be casual, just treat me like an ordinary person, and don't reveal my identity later."

"Yes, my lord!"

Zhang Wenbo and his group arrived at Zhang Xixi's rice paddy, where Wang Daniu and his group were working hard.

When Zhang Xixi saw her older brother arrive with several people, she thought something was wrong, so she put down the sack she was carrying and came over.

"Big brother, what brings you here!"

"I've brought this Mr. Sun here for a stroll."

As Zhang Wenbo spoke, he winked at Zhang Xixi.

Zhang Xixi was taken aback. This person's identity was unusual. She turned her gaze to Sun Wenfang.

Their clothes and demeanor didn't look like ordinary people, and there was a burly man behind them carrying a knife. That knife looked a lot like the group we encountered at the dilapidated temple last time. Could he be an official?

Judging from the elder brother's respectful expression, he must know the person, or at least someone of high status. Could he be an official from the county? I met the county magistrate last time; could this be the county magistrate himself?

Zhang Xixi saw through his intentions but said nothing. She bowed to Sun Wenfang and said, "Greetings, Master Sun!"

Sun Wenfang waved her hand and said, "No need for formalities, this is your family's rice paddy!"

"Yes."

"Your rice is full of plump grains, and each stalk is laden with ears of rice. The harvest must be good!"

Zhang Xixi replied with a smile, "It's alright!"

"I heard your rice matures in less than three months. Do you have some secret recipe?"

Zhang Xixi knew immediately that they were there to gather information, but she had already prepared her explanation. Besides, there's a saying that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. If everyone becomes rich, what's the point of sticking out?

"To be honest, Mr. Sun, we don't really know why my rice grows so fast, but I do know why it grows so well."

Sun Wenfang noticed that Zhang Xixi paused for a moment and gestured for her to continue.

Zhang Xixi explained to him in detail how she had used soil conditioner and organic fertilizer on the wasteland.

Sun Wenfang was stunned; there was such a thing as a medicine with such an expression.

"What you said is true!"

"Of course it's true, but the method for preparing the soil-improving solution is a secret recipe of our sect that cannot be passed on to outsiders, and the materials are also very difficult to find, so preparing this solution is a bit difficult. But the method for making organic fertilizer is very simple, and the materials only need to be withered grass, manure or rotten vegetables and fruits."

Sun Wenfang pondered for a moment. What he really wanted to know was a method to improve the soil, so that a lot of wasteland could be utilized and the lives of the people would be better.

However, the woman said it was a secret recipe that she wouldn't share, so it wouldn't be appropriate to force her to give up the recipe.

Sun Wenfang sized up Zhang Xixi. She looked at her delicate features, clear eyes, and smiling face. She seemed to be a kind person, probably around twenty years old.

Such a person is unlikely to lie and is right!

"This is a formula for improving soil!"

You don't want me to contribute too, do you?

That won't do. She's not one to be taken advantage of, and there's no such thing as a free lunch!

Besides, she really didn't know this recipe; where was she supposed to find it?

Zhang Xixi shook her head and said, "Actually, even if you know the formula, you can't make the improver. Only people from our sect can make it. But if Master Sun needs it, he can buy it from me. However, the quantity is limited and we can only supply a limited amount."

Sun Wenfang hesitated. This family had already been very selfless in sharing their organic fertilizer recipe. It wouldn't be right to force them to buy this secret recipe from their sect!

Furthermore, buying pesticides is also difficult. Pesticides that can improve soil are not something that can be achieved just by talking about them. No one will buy them if they don't see results, and we don't know if they are expensive or not.

Sun Wenfang gave a wry smile. Why is it so difficult to do something for the people?

"We don't know the effects of your potion, so we can't just rely on your opinions!"

Zhang Xixi had guessed this would be the result, and smiled, thinking it was better not to buy it!

"In business, integrity is essential. If you don't trust us, you don't have to buy. We can give you the recipe for this organic fertilizer!"

Wu Yong, who was standing next to him, noticed that the magistrate wanted to see more, so he changed the subject.

Why are the rice stalks so long after you harvest them?

Zhang Xixi introduced the ratooning rice again, adding at the end that it was still in the experimental stage and the final result was unknown.

At this moment, Sun Xiuxiu brought Cuihua over to deliver watermelons. Sun Wenfang was also very surprised when she saw the watermelons in her hands. This woman could even grow such things.

Actually, the watermelons ripened a few days ago, but Zhang Xixi forgot. She checked at noon today and found they were ready to eat. Since it was hot today, she asked Cuihua and the others to pick some and bring them to the field for everyone to eat to cool off.

After eating the watermelon, Sun Wenfang wanted to check on the watermelon patch, so Zhang Wenbo and Zhang Xixi took her home.

On the way, Sun Wenfang glanced at Zhang Xixi a few times and then looked at Zhang Wenbo, "Madam Zhang, you know my identity now, don't you!"

Zhang Xixi smiled and said, "I only guessed one thing. You look very dignified and are not an ordinary person."

Sun Wenfang straightened his face and said seriously, "Then why were you trying to fool me just now!"

Zhang Xixi said loudly with a bitter face, "My lord, I am innocent! What I just said is the whole truth. I did not deceive you at all. As for selling the medicine to you, it was out of necessity. Preparing the medicine requires costs. If we, a small family, were to give it away for free, we would go bankrupt and have to sell our children."

Sun Wenfang looked Zhang Xixi up and down again, then burst into laughter!

interesting! interesting!