Chapter 371: Sowing

Chapter 371: Chapter 371: Sowing

After tilling the fields, the land needs to be leveled with a harrow. This ensures the ground within each planting ridge is mostly flat, preventing fertilizer and water from accumulating in low spots, which would otherwise cause some plants to wither from drought while others drowned.

Xiaqing certainly understood the importance of level farmland, but she lacked experience. She would eyeball the fields, assume they were flat enough, and begin sowing. It was only when she irrigated that she discovered the high and low spots.

So, Xiaqing took to leveling her fields during the first watering, using the water’s surface as her guide. But since the seedlings were already in the ground, all she could move was the soil between them.

After harvesting the first crop, she tried to adjust the levels again, but she overcorrected, completely reversing the high and low spots.

During a Territory Alliance meeting, Xiaqing took the opportunity to ask for detailed advice on how to level the land. If she had to keep relying on her eyes, she would need to find Zhong Tao and trade points for a surveyor’s level used in construction.

To her surprise, Shi Zhong introduced Xiaqing to an ancient farm tool used for leveling land: a leveling harrow.

The leveling harrow was shaped much like the large iron rake Xiaqing used for gathering hay, but it was made of tightly woven, finger-thick willow branches and was designed specifically for smoothing soil.

After visiting the Tenth Territory to see the leveling harrow Shi Zhong had made, Xiaqing returned to her own territory and built one. Today, it was finally time to put it to use.

After Sheep Leader finished effortlessly plowing the two-and-a-half-mu plot, Xiaqing fed it tender cabbage leaves and compressed rations. She then unhitched the plow, attached the leveling harrow, and went over the deeply tilled field with it three times.

Looking at the field after using the leveling harrow brought Xiaqing a deep sense of satisfaction.

At 2:30 AM the next day, Xiaqing woke up on schedule. She began soaking the rapeseed and wheat seeds in Pollution-free Spring Water, to which she had added a temperature-adjusted insecticide. Only then did she head out for her night watch to guard the territory.

For some time now, Xiaqing had been going to bed after eight in the evening and waking up after two in the morning, taking shifts with Hu Zifeng’s team to protect the territory’s farm equipment and construction crew.

Xiaqing had to harvest crops, stand night watch, and prepare for autumn plowing. Of course she was exhausted; it would be a lie to say otherwise. Fortunately, the Green Light Spinach Seeds on the terraces hadn’t ripened yet. By consuming a vial of Special Level Nutrient Liquid each day, she was able to keep going.

The construction crew was set to connect the territory’s West Wall and north wall today. Tonight, Xiaqing would finally get a peaceful night’s sleep.

After her early morning shift from three to six o’clock ended, Xiaqing had breakfast. Then, it was time to sow the seeds.

Qi Fu and his wife arrived at the Third Territory, carrying a wooden seed drill.

This seed drill was different from the one Xiaqing had seen before at the Qi Fu Territory. It was a new, improved version made by Shi Zhong and Qi Fu. It featured three iron tubes at the bottom, each fitted with a furrow opener. Seeds would pass from the hopper into the tubes and drop into the furrows carved by the openers.

Three iron tubes meant it could plant three rows at once, making it three times more efficient than a single-tube model. At only 30 points, Xiaqing thought the price was more than fair.

Qi Fu explained why he’d brought his wife. "We have a limited supply of seeds and can’t afford to waste any. Feeding them into the hopper by hand is more even than just letting them pour in." He added cheerfully, "You pull, Xiaqing, I’ll guide it, and Yanzi will drop in the seeds."

"I appreciate the help." Xiaqing had no objections, of course. She slung the drill’s pull-rope over her shoulder, gripped the handles to keep it steady, and began walking forward at the slow pace Qi Fu had requested.

Qi Fu gripped the two handles, controlling the depth of the planting, while Yuan Yan walked beside them, feeding seeds into the hopper. The trio moved from one end of the greenhouse to the other, and just like that, three rows of wheat were planted.

Qi Fu set the drill down and carefully scraped away the soil from a small section of a furrow for Xiaqing to see. Looking at the evenly spaced seeds in the dirt, Xiaqing marveled, "This drill is an amazing tool, and your hands are so steady, Yanzi."

Yuan Yan smiled. Her face, scarred by acid rain, had filled out a little, and she had much better color. "That’s because you pulled so steadily," she said. "The hopper didn’t wobble one bit."

’It’s because Xiaqing cleared all the big rocks from the field,’ Qi Fu thought. ’The three furrow openers at the bottom of the drill weren’t getting knocked askew by stones, so of course it was steady.’

’Even though Xiaqing is all alone in her territory and has less farmland, she’s willing to put in the hard work and use good fertilizer.’ Comparing their results, Qi Fu realized the wheat grains from Xiaqing’s first harvest were plumper than his own.

If Xiaqing had known what Qi Fu was thinking, she would have told him outright: it was because she had paid a premium for high-quality wheat seeds. That’s why they looked so much plumper.

Qi Fu dusted the dirt from his hands, righted the seed drill, and conferred with Xiaqing. "It looks a bit dense now, but only half our seeds will actually germinate, so it won’t be crowded once they sprout. Should we continue planting at this density?"

"Sounds good." She picked up the pull-rope, and they continued sowing.

Good work takes time, and sowing is a critical step in farming. The three of them spent the entire morning planting two mu of Yellow Light Wheat, half a mu of Green Light wheat, and one mu of Yellow Light Rapeseed.

With the seeds in the ground, Xiaqing finally felt at ease.

The three sat by the edge of the field for a while, resting and drinking water. Yuan Yan asked, "Xiaqing, how many greenhouses are you planning to build?"

Xiaqing had it all planned out. "I’m building two. One for vegetables, and one for chickens. I just need to grow enough vegetables for myself; I won’t have time to manage any more. And you?"

Yuan Yan answered, "I’m planning to have a few workers stay in our territory for the winter, so we’ll plant ten greenhouses. We won’t dismantle them after winter; we’ll use them to start rice and vegetable seedlings in the spring."

’Vegetable prices will definitely be higher in the winter, so having more greenhouses is a good idea,’ Xiaqing thought. She then asked, "Were you able to buy plastic sheeting for your greenhouses? I have two extra pieces. If you’re short, you can take them."

Xiaqing had traded some of her regular Green Light Spinach with Li Si and Tang Huai for five sheets of extra-thick greenhouse plastic, which was of much better quality than what Kuang Qingwei was able to source.

Since Xiaqing was offering to trade, Yuan Yan certainly wasn’t going to refuse. "I’m a little short on funds right now," she said. "Can I pay you the points after I sell my vegetables?"

Xiaqing nodded in agreement. Qi Fu then asked, "Xiaqing, once we’ve got our greenhouses and walls set up, how about we take a trip into the Evolution Forest before the snow comes?"

Seeing her two allies looking at her with eager anticipation, Xiaqing smiled. "Of course. We can go try our luck in the valley on Mountain No. 50."

After Qi Fu and his wife departed in high spirits with the seed drill on their shoulders, Xiaqing went to check the progress on the perimeter wall. The construction crew was installing the final five hundred meters of the north wall. At this pace, they would surely finish by the afternoon.

Feeling delighted, Xiaqing headed for the High Slope. Once she reached the weeds and shrubs under the Big Chuntun Tree, she approached Sheep Leader, who was "supervising" the workers. "Boss," she said, "I’m done planting the seeds. How about we go home and eat?"

When the south wall of the territory was being built, Sheep Leader had snuck a few peeks before losing interest and going about its usual business of eating and drinking.

But when it saw the construction crew drive their rumbling vehicles up to the Northern Isolation Zone and begin working, Sheep Leader had immediately summoned Xiaqing. It positioned her and itself in front of the Big Chuntun Tree, adopting a battle-ready stance.

The Big Chuntun Tree was still over two hundred meters from the Northern Isolation Zone, concealed by a thick screen of weeds and shrubs. The busy construction crew had no idea that a powerful Strength Evolution Sheep had already marked them as targets, ready to send them flying at a moment’s notice.

This Green Light persimmon tree was an important source of food for Sheep Leader, so Xiaqing completely understood its urge to protect it. She had repeatedly assured the sheep that the construction crew wouldn’t touch its precious tree or even come close to it. But Sheep Leader remained unconvinced. As long as the crew was here, it was going to stand guard.

The construction crew was still making a racket nearby, and Xiaqing had the nerve to suggest going home to eat. Sheep Leader refused to even turn its head, let alone spare her a glance.