Chapter 177: First Harvest

Gu Xixi said lightly, "Let everyone know, if someone comes to look, there's no need to stare like guarding against thieves; just do your own work."

"First, you've worked hard enough; there's no need to waste your energy elsewhere."

"Second, there are not a few people who share the same thoughts as Gu Erye."

"I want to see what they still plan to do."

Chen Dafu listened while nodding; upon hearing the end, he couldn't help but smile in understanding.

"Understood!"

Gu Xixi doesn't care about secrecy because the true formula is the agricultural science technology etched in her memory—a scientific, comprehensive, locally adapted farming method.

However, Gu Xixi doing this is not to monopolize the technology; she is merely waiting.

Waiting for the restlessness to settle, just like pruning fruit tree branches—cutting away the harmful parts and keeping what benefits the whole.

An innocent man who possesses a jade brings guilt upon himself.

Like the farmer and the snake, Gu Xixi doesn't want to end up as that farmer.

After arranging everything, since Qin Dasao's orchard is the nearest, Gu Xixi went there first.

Qin Dasao and her husband were weeding in the orchard.

Seeing Gu Xixi approach, Qin Dasao threw down her hoe and happily ran over, "Xixi, you came just in time; our medicinal herbs have grown tall, and I'm waiting for you to see if they're ready for harvest!"

Gu Xixi walked into the woods with Qin Dasao.

"This patch of fishy herb is just ripe; if we don't dig it now, it will grow old."

"The woad root over there should be ready in a few days, around the start of summer."

"These other types have longer growing seasons, so we still need to wait a bit, but medicinal materials with long growth periods fetch higher prices."

Being able to harvest so soon made Qin Dasao very happy, "Great, we'll dig up the fishy herb later, dry it in a cool, ventilated place, and then we can sell it at the city pharmacy!"

Since Qin Dasao grows medicinal herbs, Gu Xixi had previously greeted the old doctor; Qin Dasao, not knowing how to handle the herbs, can consult him.

Gu Xixi said, "After digging up this fishy herb, it will continue to grow."

"Moreover, with its growing season of several months each year, if tended properly, it grows vigorously and can be harvested almost daily."

Qin Dasao exclaimed in delight, "Really? Isn't this like a hen that lays eggs?"

She raised her voice to call her husband and tell him the good news.

She then asked Gu Xixi, "How should we dig it so that, as you said, it continues endlessly?"

Gu Xixi took the small hoe, squatted down, and taught Qin Dasao how to dig up the fishy herb.

Then she walked around the orchard once more, telling Qin Dasao and her husband the pruning method.

Afterwards, it was the turn of the two families' orchards growing vegetables, the one family's orchard growing medicinal herbs, visiting each household in turn.

At noon, He Jinglan ran out to meet up with Gu Xixi.

She didn't need to ask for directions, because An Qinghe voluntarily offered to guide her.

Gu Xixi alternated between explaining to people and doing the work herself, busy without cease.

He Jinglan and An Qinghe followed closely beside her, watching with great interest.

After visiting several households like this, they finally arrived at Village Chief Lao Qian's home, already evening.

Gu Xixi had been trying as much as possible to ignore the two tails behind her, but these two people stared intently at her every move, curious about the baby, like children chasing a performing troupe.

Gu Xixi finally couldn't bear it and said, "It's almost dark; aren't you tired?"

He Jinglan laughed softly, "You haven't rested yet; I'm just watching, so I'm not tired."

Gu Xixi sighed, "What's there to see in farm work? After watching this long, aren't you bored yet?"

He Jinglan and An Qinghe simultaneously gave a foolish laugh and shook their heads.

He Jinglan said, "You just said the Village Chief's family raises chickens and ducks; I want to see!"

An Qinghe: "Xixi, I love watching whatever you do; in the future we'll cooperate, so I need to learn ahead of time."

Gu Xixi, unable to oppose any further, silently allowed them to keep following.

Qian Aunt had known in advance that Gu Xixi was coming, sent Old Qian back to cook, and she stayed here waiting.

The procedure for inspecting the orchard was basically the same as for the previous households.

It was just that the free-range chickens and ducks in the woods were quite eye-catching.

Gu Xixi asked, "They aren't fenced in; aren't you afraid these poultry will get lost?"

Qian Aunt gave a mysterious smile, "Not afraid."

She gave a whistle, and from the dim depths of the orchard, two swaying shadows walked out.

Upon closer look, there was a completely snow-white large goose, and a large rooster with all-red feathers, black plumage, and a green tail.

The rooster flapped its wings and actually flew up to a person's height, landing on a nearby branch.

He Jinglan stared wide-eyed and said, "This rooster looks formidable at a glance."

"If those cockfighting enthusiasts in the capital saw it, they'd be willing to pay several dozen taels of silver!"

"Really?" Qian Aunt exclaimed delightedly, "My husband said he carefully selected this rooster; from now on, the whole bird can fetch a high price."

"I didn't believe it either, but I never expected someone would actually buy a rooster to take home, not just to stew and eat."

He Jinglan nodded, saying, "Of course, edible chickens can't compare in price to fighting cocks."

"Once a fighting cock gains fame, people will vie for it."

Qian Aunt couldn't understand the mannerisms of the capital's officials and nobles.

She only knew that raising this rooster well would make money.

Qian Aunt thanked Gu Xixi, "Earlier, when the old bachelor came to cause trouble, thanks to your advice to raise a few fierce poultry, they can guard the home and protect the woods, and they are also the produce from free-ranging in my orchard."

"Besides buying a few extra chick and ducklings, we specially picked this rooster and that goose."

Gu Xixi looked at the white goose.

The big goose's combat ability has long been famed; it can be said to be an existence that makes rural children hear the wind and lose their courage.

The big white goose twisted its neck a few times, then actually locked eyes with An Qinghe, flapped its wings and charged over.

At this moment, Qian Dazen was saying, "But lately no one has come to cause trouble, so these two haven't yet found a place to use their skills."

Suddenly hearing An Qinghe's miserable cry, he bolted, shouting, "It hurts! How could this bird bite people!!"

"Don't chase me! My butt!!"

Qian Dazen hurriedly went after the big goose, trying to rescue An Qinghe.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan exchanged a glance, almost forgetting that An Qinghe might never have seen such a big goose.

Returning to Gu Xixi's home, dinner was already prepared.

This morning, after He Jinglan got up, she firmly paid Zhang Shen for room and board.

Seeing this, An Qinghe also wanted to pay for room and board, but every time he came, he brought lots of food, supplies, and toys, and Zhang Shen absolutely refused to take his money again.

Zhang Shen does things decisively; tonight's table had one extra meat dish and one extra vegetable dish compared to usual.

The meat dish consisted of two wild hares bought from a nearby hunter, paired with last year's stored dried chestnuts, braised into a full large plate.

During the meal, Gu Xixi saw Shitou put down his pen and paper, and wondered aloud, "The school hasn't held classes for so long—how is there still unfinished homework?"

Shitou raised his head, "This is homework the teacher just assigned today."

Gu Xixi startled, "Could it be that Mu Nan Zhao has returned?"

That shouldn't be the case.

No news of a major border war has arrived, and it's impossible for it to have ended so quickly.

Immediately afterward, Shitou said, "It's the newly arrived Master Liu."