Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

When Da Bao and the others returned home and saw several more people, their reactions varied, but they all waited for Zhang Xixi's explanation.

Da Bao: A few more people have come to share delicious food with me!

Erbao: I wonder where these four people came from, are they dangerous?

Zhou Yujie: The people my sister-in-law brought back must all be good people!

Zhang Xixi snorted before introducing Zhou Fu's family to Da Bao and the others. She told Zhou Fu and the others to call Zhou Yujie "Second Master," the two Baos to call him "Young Master" or "Little Master," and Da Bao and the others to call Zhou Fu and his family "Uncle and Aunt."

Although Zhou Fu and the others were told to rest this afternoon, they only tidied up their lodgings and calmed themselves down before coming out to work, and they were quite enthusiastic.

Tonight's dinner was also made by Sun Xiuxiu. Looking at the twice-cooked pork and stir-fried bamboo shoots on the table, they looked pretty good. Zhang Xixi took a bite first, and the taste was not bad, just a little bit worse than her mother's.

"You guys go eat too! Did you save any food?" Zhang Xixi asked Sun Xiuxiu, who was standing next to her.

“I’ve already reserved it!” Sun Xiuxiu replied with a smile.

"Then let's go eat!"

Sun Xiuxiu took her leave and returned to the kitchen to serve her husband and two sons dinner. The master treated them quite well; although they addressed each other as master and servant, they were never shortchanged in terms of food and necessities.

After dinner, Zhang Xixi felt that Zhou Fu and the others might have picked up some diseases along the way, so it would be better to take precautions.

She bought a bottle of medium-grade spiritual spring water from the mall and told Sun Xiuxiu and the others to drink it before she was completely relieved. She hoped that the spiritual spring water could improve their immunity and eliminate the viruses they had brought.

Before going to bed that night, I told Sun Xiuxiu about the family's three meals a day, and also told her where to put what grains. Finally, I changed all the water in the kitchen to spiritual spring water before going to sleep.

In this day and age, even a common cold can be fatal, so it's always good to be careful!

Early the next morning, there was a knock on the door. Zhou Fu went to open it and saw Wang Daniu leading several burly men. He quickly asked:

"Who are you!"

"And who are you? We're looking for our employer."

Zhou Yujie had just gotten up when he saw this scene, and he quickly ran up to introduce it to everyone.

Zhou Fu and Wang Daniu exchanged a few pleasantries and then went about their own business.

Zhang Xixi woke up to find that Wang Daniu and the others had returned, but she didn't bother with them. They had performed quite well last month, and she believed that they would work hard under Wang Daniu's leadership.

The right thing to do is to keep running and practicing stick techniques!

It's so nice to have someone to wait on you; you no longer have to prepare breakfast for the whole family after your morning exercise.

After breakfast, Zhang Xixi took Zhou Fu to their land. "That area is all our land. The green grass is pasture. You can help them clear the land every morning, go home for lunch, and then cut the grass that the livestock need in the afternoon."

"Yes, boss!"

When Wang Daniu saw Zhang Xixi arrive, he immediately stepped forward to greet her, "Boss, what can I do for you?"

“Zhou Fu will be clearing the land with you this morning, so please take him with you.”

"Okay!" Wang Daniu responded and then instructed Zhou Fu to follow behind Niu and use a hoe to dig up the stones that hadn't been plowed out and throw them aside.

Zhang Xixi looked around and then walked down. The land along the river was relatively flat, and rice could be planted next year. This year's food supply still needed to be secured.

On this side of the low-lying area, Zhang Wenhong was teaching how to make fertilizer step by step. Zhang Dacheng and his son Zhou Dashan, along with several young men from the village, were learning from him. Although it smelled a bit bad, what did farmers care about a little stench?

Looking at the layers of excrement, Zhou Dashan and the others thought to themselves that they needed too much excrement, and their own supply was definitely not enough. Buying it would be too expensive.

Well, I'll just use the materials I have at home and make as much as I can.

When Zhang Xixi arrived, she saw Zhou Dashan and the others frowning as they intently watched Zhang Wenhong's movements. "How's everyone's learning going?"

"This method is simple, but can't we use something else to replace human and animal excrement?"

“Rotten fruits and vegetables can also be used,” Zhang Xixi replied.

Everyone gave Zhang Xixi a disapproving look. They were all dirt poor, almost out of wild vegetables, let alone fruits and vegetables!

Zhang Xixi touched her nose. Actually, she was just saying it casually, just joking!

"Actually, I have a potion that can improve the soil. After a month, wasteland can be transformed into at least low-grade farmland. However, the method for making this potion is very complicated, and the materials are very rare. Even if I tell you the method, you still won't be able to make it."

Zhou Dashan and the others were filled with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow upon hearing Zhang Xixi's words. They had originally thought that once the fertilizer was made, they could grow some crops and barely make ends meet, but they never expected to be stumped by the lack of materials.

"Sister-in-law, so what are you planning to do...?"

Zhang Xixi thought to herself that the fish had finally taken the bait. "I can take Xiao Jin and the others to the mountains to find materials and make it for everyone. But as the saying goes, even brothers should keep clear accounts, so I need to charge some compensation. I can't give it to everyone for free."

Upon hearing Zhang Xixi's words, Zhou Dashan and the others began to chatter amongst themselves.

But we don't have any money!

"We don't know if your medicine will even work. What if it doesn't work later?"

"Yes, if it doesn't work, wouldn't I have wasted my money..."

Zhang Xixi said coldly, "I'm just giving you a suggestion. Whether you buy it or not is your business. You can decide for yourselves."

Zhou Dashan felt that Zhang Xixi's medicine was reliable and trusted her character, so he quickly asked, "Sister-in-law, how is the payment calculated?"

“I know that none of you have any money, so you can work instead of paying. One bucket of medicine can improve one acre of land. A strong laborer can work for my family for ten days to exchange for one bucket of medicine.”

Zhang Xixi thought for a moment and then said, "Of course, I'm not that heartless. Everyone can come and do work for my family after using the medicine for a month and seeing the effects. Those who need it can come to my house tomorrow morning."

"Let's go back and discuss this. Let's go!"

After Zhou Dashan and the others left, Zhang Dacheng stepped forward and asked, "Girl, does your potion really have the effect of improving the soil?"

Seeing Zhang Dacheng's serious expression, Zhang Xixi replied earnestly, "Dad, it's true. I never lie. Once Second Brother's fertilizer is ready, adding the medicine will make it even more effective."

Zhang Wenhong immediately looked up and said, "Really, my fertilizer will be ready in a couple of days. I'll have to rely on you then!"

"No need for formalities among family!"

Zhang Dacheng was still a little uneasy. He had never heard of a way to turn barren land into fertile fields in a month. It was truly unbelievable!

"Will there be any problems?"

“Dad, if you don’t believe me, go and see for yourself in my field. That’s just the medicine diluted ten times.”

Zhang Dacheng urged, "Let's go, let's go take a look now."