Chapter 1384 - 1304: Working Together, Part 2

Fu Tinghan saw that she didn’t quite understand and explained in detail, "That piece of land is to be planted with winter wheat. After next year’s wheat harvest, half will be set aside, and the other half will be converted to soybeans. The second year, we will rotate rice. This way, we can compare whether after a season of wheat, planting soybeans is better for maintaining soil fertility, or if leaving the land fallow preserves it more. All of this needs to be tested."

Previously, their agricultural research mainly focused on breeding good varieties, composting, and improving planting methods. Shen Ruhui even delved into pest disease prevention plants, but overlooked the maintenance of soil fertility.

This year, floods destroyed many fertile lands, taking away nutrient-rich soil, which limited fertility. The common people voluntarily enclosed land to restore fertility, waking up the court to the necessity of focusing on soil maintenance.

That’s why the Ministry of Agriculture began systematic research.

But relying solely on the Ministry of Agriculture was not enough, so Zhao Hanzhang involved the Imperial Manor, conducting various experiments on the manors under her name.

Princess Hongnong understood, and after lunch, she joined them in the fields to harvest rice.

Yet, after only half an hour, they returned to the shade of the trees to rest because the sun was at its peak.

When it cooled down around 3:00 PM, they hit the fields again, bending over to harvest until the sun set, only occasionally standing up to drink water.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan tried several times to persuade her but couldn’t get her to leave; Mrs. Wang could only take a sickle and join in the field.

With her in-laws harvesting, her composure just couldn’t allow her to sit comfortably in the shade.

But Mrs. Wang would slack off, Qing Gu assisted nearby, making her appear not at all inferior to Princess Hongnong.

Seeing Mrs. Wang wearing a look of post-catastrophe pride, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh. She personally helped both mothers into the carriage, asked Fu Tinghan to sit with Fu Xuan, and sat together with Princess Hongnong.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her rolled-up sleeves, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to her, "Mother, if you have something to say, don’t hesitate."

Princess Hongnong gripped the teacup tightly, thought for a moment, and felt she really couldn’t bend over tomorrow, so she said, "I wander around when idle and heard that many new schools have opened in the villages around Luoyang, mostly enrolling female students. Although they can study in schools, they must return home every day, doing housework and occasionally working in the fields, often resulting in late arrivals and early dismissals."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Now, in most regions of Hua Country, the lowest level of schools is still the county schools, located in the county.

Children of appropriate age enroll, if they live in or around the county, they can reside at home; those living far away must stay at the school.

Only Luoyang and a few surrounding counties are currently piloting village schools, that is, establishing schools in large gatherings, commonly known as villages, which are usually the central hub of several villages.

These schools have only three grades and are responsible solely for mandatory education. They are opened in villages to facilitate village students; second, to reduce the pressure on county schools.

Since it’s uncertain whether this is suitable, it’s only being piloted in Luoyang and several nearby counties.

Princess Hongnong pitied those children and wanted to contribute a sum specifically to assist them, "To cook and eat at the school, during noon breaks they won’t have to rush home. I heard children, when going home at noon, must wash clothes, fetch water, feed pigs and chickens, clean the rooms, and some are even taken to the fields to work, often released after the afternoon, so by the time they sprint to school it’s almost 3:00 PM, the teachers are very dissatisfied."

Zhao Hanzhang tapped the table lightly, "So the Princess means directly keeping the children at the school, as long as they come to study during the day, they shouldn’t leave halfway, meals resolved entirely within school."

Princess Hongnong’s eyes lit up; she hadn’t thought of this but merely wanted to donate money for school meals. With food provided, they needn’t return home, but the Emperor’s method was evidently better.

She immediately nodded, "Yes, that’s exactly what I mean."

Zhao Hanzhang slightly curled her lips, "We can do that, but with so many students, relying solely on your support isn’t feasible. How about this, let the children bring grains and vegetables from home to collectively make meals at the school, and your funds can be a subsidy."

Princess Hongnong was momentarily stunned, "Wouldn’t their parents be even more unwilling for them to study then?"

"Then it can only be conscription for labor, at least three months per school year, as long as they are willing to contribute," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Education is a long-term endeavor; supporting it alone isn’t possible, thousands of families must work together."