Time flies, and the continuous spring rain finally stops. A gray-white patch of land can be seen on the Tian family's hundred acres of land, gently bulging in the breeze. According to the farmer's head, this is called mulch film. The mulch film cover can insulate and increase heat, and also has the function of retaining moisture.
The effect of moisture can ensure that all cotton seedlings are sown once sown, and the seedlings will grow strong and early, thus protecting the seedlings.
"This mulch can be put away first." Tian Minyan happily said to Xia Guang: "The cotton seedlings have all emerged, so we need to thin out the seedlings early and remove the thick seedlings so that the cotton seedlings can form rows to prevent the emergence of seedlings and weak seedlings.
"
"Do you still need to thin out the seedlings? Doesn't the more seedlings mean more cotton will grow?" Xia Guang was a little confused. How is this cotton planting different from those of rice? A single plant grows better than several plants?
"No way, cotton seedlings cannot be planted densely. If they are too densely planted, they will easily form tall and weak seedlings. The disease will be serious and the amount of fertilizer will be large, which will not be conducive to growth in the future." Tian Minyan said with a smile: "Sir, just think about it.
Is it better to grow a radish in one pit, or to grow several radishes together? For another example, just like people, do you feel full if you eat a bowl of rice alone, or if you share it with several people? Then naturally, one person will be full.
Grow faster, that’s why.”
Xia Guang frowned, what kind of theory was this, but it seemed to make sense. He glanced at Tian Minyan, how could this girl know so much at such a young age?
However, he didn't know much about cotton cultivation, so all he could do was obey.
The Tian family now has nearly twenty long-term workers. As soon as Tian Minyan talked about thinning seedlings and taught them personally, everyone carefully dug up the seedlings one by one and replanted them. This work alone took ten days of busy work.
.
Tian Minyan and Xia Guang are even busier. After all, in addition to the 100 acres of land in Yangmei Village, there are hundreds of acres of cotton in Niutun Village. They have to keep an eye on the growth of cotton. Can they not be busy?
As early as when the seeds were being sown, Tian Minyan seriously expressed the lack of manpower. Later, Qi Shiqi transferred several people to Niutun Village to take care of it. I heard that they were all junior officials under the Sinong Bureau.
Seeing the hard work of those petty officials, Tian Minyan thought to herself that it was really difficult for them, but growing cotton was not as easy as growing rice. There were still several months until harvesting, but it was a lot of work.
"The cotton growth cycle is divided into five periods, and now is the first period. The next step is the key. Seedlings are most afraid of insect pests, so they must always watch for defense." Tian Minyan and Xia Guang walked back to Yangmei Village.
While saying: "I'm just afraid that if there is an insect infestation, all the preliminary work will be in vain."
There were no pesticides in this era, and she was not a chemical engineer. The simplest medicine would probably be just alkali mixed with water to prevent mosquitoes.
Xia Guang sighed and said: "This extraneous object is really not simple, and I don't know what the results will be. This is the most difficult crop I have ever grown in my life."
What he said is true. He has loved working with crops for most of his life and has seen a lot of crops. But this is the first time he has grown cotton. He never imagined that it would cost so much money to plant such a flower.
energy.
"Don't worry, sir. If this cotton is grown, you will be proud of it." Tian Minyan narrowed her eyes and said with a smile: "Compared with potatoes, this cotton is truly a good thing that benefits the country and the people. Again, sir.
Think about it, this hundred acres of land is covered with white flowers, how spectacular and beautiful it is?"
"Okay, I'll just watch." Xia Guang swept his beard and laughed.
When they returned home, Tian Minrui and his brothers were already waiting for Xia Guang. When they saw him, they hurriedly stepped forward to salute him.
"No need to be polite, take a look at the article I asked you to write." Xia Guang said to Tian Minrui with a smile.
"Yes, sir." Tian Minrui immediately presented his article with both hands.
Xia Guang was not in a hurry to read, and only said to go to the study. Tian Minyan also took the opportunity to say that he would go and send some refreshments.
She was a woman and could not enter school, but she never thought of giving up learning the things of this era, because the ancients had knowledge that was far beyond what a modern person like her could understand.
Tian Minyan has always believed that knowing more about this era will be more beneficial to herself, so whenever she has time and Xia Guang teaches Tian Minrui and Tian Minrui, she will also listen. In private, she and Xia Guang
While working, she would also ask him questions she didn't understand about what she had learned, and Xia Guang would patiently answer them for her.
Over time, although Tian Minyan did not really become a disciple, she became both a teacher and a friend with Xia Guang, and became more familiar with her than Tian Minrui and the others. Xia Guang also admired Tian Minyan's intelligence very much.
He is proud but not arrogant, arrogant but not arrogant, acts in a measured manner, and has general knowledge. At a young age, his knowledge is not inferior to that of men. There are some things that Xia Guang himself may not understand, but Tian Minyan knows that, in fact, he cannot learn them either.
There are few things, so he also likes to talk to Tian Minyan.
Xia Guang pointed to Tian Minrui's article and said with a smile: "Although it is not enough, you have only been enlightened for less than a year. It is considered good to have such results. If you work harder, you can try it out this autumn."
Tian Minyan was overjoyed after hearing this, looked at Tian Minrui and said: "Brother, the master said you can take the Tongsheng test." Being able to take the Tongsheng test means that you will take a step towards fame.
Tian Minrui was also very happy and a little excited, but he remembered not to relax too much, so he bowed deeply to Xia Guang and said, "Thank you sir for your careful teaching. The students have benefited a lot this month."
"Teaching is one thing. The key is that you are willing to study hard. This acquired hard work is more important than innate intelligence." Xia Guang said with his hands behind his back: "As long as you are willing to give, even if you don't get everything, you will always gain something
, do you understand?”
Tian Minrui heard the compliment, saw Tian Minyan and Xiao Wu winking at each other, and smiled shyly: "I follow Mr.'s teachings."
"Ahem! Xiao Wu, it's time for you to study the Four Books. Starting tomorrow, your homework will be increased by 10%." Seeing Xiao Wu's naughty look, Xia Guang shook his head and pretended to be serious.
Xiao Wu made a sound and showed a bitter face. But when he saw Xia Guang's serious face, he immediately straightened up and said: "I will follow Mr.'s words."
Xia Guang assigned homework to the two of them and asked them to study, while he took Tian Minyan to play chess.
Tian Minyan didn't know how to play chess, but Xia Guang wanted to teach her. She couldn't learn well, so she made a set of backgammon, which fascinated Xia Guang. The two often played this backgammon.
"Sir, you read my cousin's article two days ago. What do you think?" Tian Minyan took a step forward and asked about Tian Minlin's article that she had brought to Xia Guang for comment. This was only after the old man begged her again and again.
Promised.
"It's flashy, the words are boring, and it's just superficial." Xia Guang said lightly: "This poetry is too vulgar. A man who is sad for spring and autumn is not Lin Daiyu."
Tian Minyan twitched the corner of her mouth, thinking of Tian Minlin's temper, and shook her head. After so many years of learning, she only learned how to be sad for spring and autumn. It was really in vain. If the old man heard Xia Guang's words, I wonder if he would feel depressed.
I have to spit out a mouthful of old blood.
Well, she would just ask casually and tell her, and it was up to them whether they listened or not.
"Sir, what about Brother Rui? Do you think it can be done?" Rui Ge's fate in the autumn is related to his future, so we still need to focus on this.
"Do you want to hear the truth or something?"
"Of course it's the truth."
"Brother Rui works hard enough, but his brain is slower than Xiao Wu's reaction. Judging from his knowledge, he will be a child student this year. Even if he takes the scholar exam next year, it shouldn't be a problem, but if he wants to go to the next level, I'm afraid..."
Tian Minyan's heart suddenly went into chaos, she pursed her lips and asked, "You can't even lift a person?"
"It depends on him." Xia Guang paused, glanced at her, and said, "Brother Rui has an upright temperament. Even if he passed the exam, I'm worried that he is not suitable for officialdom."
Tian Minyan gave a bitter smile and said: "I also know your concern. My brother is upright, young and mature. He has been soaked in bitter water in the past. He is most unaccustomed to those dark things. You don't know how much I have spent."
I tried my best to twist his temper, but now he is more tactful, compared to before..."
"You are twins, but you know far more than he does. Not speaking of theory, but just as a person, you are better than him. Looking at it this way, you look like the one who was born first." Xia Guang squinted his eyes.
Her words were full of temptation.
Tian Minyan clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking about this old fox.
"Don't you know that I died once?"
"oh?"
Tian Minyan succinctly talked about her falling into the water, and finally said: "The moment I fell into the water, I thought, if the Bodhisattva protects me from death, I will definitely reverse this fate. I will not admit defeat, and I am really protected by the Bodhisattva."
, and it made my mind become brighter.”
"Then you're a blessing in disguise." Xia Guang didn't believe in such things as gods and Buddhas, so he just raised his eyebrows and said.
"Maybe that's what I said, but I just said that knowledge changes destiny, so you should read more books and learn more from adults." Tian Minyan laughed and changed the topic again: "Sir, Brother Rui once said
, I didn’t want to go to school and wanted to start a business. I also said that I would wait until he was fifteen before deciding. If it really didn’t work out, he would be able to get a degree and take care of the household chores. Just an adult, my Xiaowu?"
"I'm optimistic about Xiao Wu." Xia Guang said, stroking his beard: "Xiao Wu is smart and intelligent. He can often draw inferences about other situations when encountering problems. With some guidance, he will definitely become a talented person."
"Seriously?" Tian Minyan opened her eyes wide and was very excited.
Xia Guang nodded and said, "It's just that he has a wild temper and needs to be tempered."
"Sir, I leave my little five to you." Tian Minyan quickly stood up and bowed deeply.
Xia Guang hadn't spoken yet, when Ji Xiang said that Bai Mei was back and was looking for her.
Tian Minyan apologized to Xia Guang, asked them to do it next time, and hurried out.
Xia Guang watched her back disappear, and then looked at the chessboard. Unknowingly, a lot of his chess pieces were taken, and he couldn't help but smile: "This little fox, does knowledge change your destiny? Well, that's interesting!"
