Traveling through the famine, I stockpiled supplies like crazy

Chapter 331 Rice Breeding

The next morning, when Xu Han got up, Lu Chuan and the other three had already gone to work in the wasteland.

Xu Han first went to the kitchen to cook breakfast, added firewood to the stove, and then went to the backyard to feed the livestock.

Then he went to the cowshed and led the cow out, tied it to a big tree in the valley, and left the rope longer so that it could find grass to eat by itself.

After Xu Han finished all the housework at home, she started to cook bamboo shoots.

Soak all the cooked bamboo shoots in water for a day, then take them out and dry them in the sun the next morning.

The dried bamboo shoots made in this way will taste better and not have that bitter taste.

After three days of hard work, the three of them finally finished planting all the sweet potatoes and peanuts.

Xu Han had already cooked all the bamboo shoots and dried them.

Looking at the yard full of dried bamboo shoots, Xu Han felt for a moment as if she was back in time, stockpiling supplies for years of disaster.

Before the disaster came, the courtyard was often filled with various items hanging out to dry.

During the famine years, such a scene was never seen again.

Fortunately, the weather returned to normal afterwards, and the family was able to return to their ordinary and happy life of planting in spring and harvesting in autumn.

This morning, Lu Chuan, Taoist Grandpa Zhao and the other two went to set up the racks for the vegetables outside.

I used the dead bamboo that I had just cut down some time ago. Since growing vegetables only takes a little more than a season, the dead bamboo does not affect my use at all.

Split the bamboo into slightly thicker strips and insert them into the soil one by one so that the vegetables can climb onto the racks.

With the support of bamboo poles, when it rains in the future, the vegetables will not be blown down or broken due to strong winds and rains.

The three of them were busy, and Xu Han herself was not idle either.

Take advantage of this time to take out the rice seeds reserved in the space.

These rice seeds have not been husked, so we need to soak them first, then take them out tomorrow and put them into sacks.

Then take a wooden barrel, put hay in it, wet it and start germinating the rice seeds.

Wait until the third day to wash it again, continue soaking it, and then continue germination.

Repeat the same work twice, and white roots will emerge from the rice seeds. Then you can directly sow and grow seedlings.

The germination rate of rice seeds that have been germinated will be higher, which is more conducive to the growth of seedlings in the later stage.

It is not enough to just soak the rice seeds today. While the rice seeds are soaking, we must also prepare the field for seedlings.

Because there were not many seedlings to grow, and there happened to be space in the vegetable garden in front of the backyard, Xu Han simply stopped growing the seedlings outside and grew them directly in the backyard, which was easier to manage with less land.

Moreover, the wasteland outside has not yet started to be watered. We have been busy during this period and the paddy fields have not yet been sorted out.

So Xu Han took the tools and went straight to the backyard.

First, I cleared a small piece of land in the backyard near the water source.

Then add ridges next to it. The ridges need to be made higher, otherwise the water in the field will leak out. At that time, there will be no water in the field for the seedlings, and the seedlings will not grow well.

The rice seedling field was not very big, and Xu Han finished it by herself in a short time.

Then he added some manure into the seedling field, and then started adding water.

Use a bamboo pipe to directly lead water into the seedling field until some water accumulates inside, then stop draining water.

Today, we have prepared the rice seedling field. After the rice seeds have been successfully germinated, they will be directly scattered in the field. Then, they will be gently patted with a broom to let the rice seeds sink into the soil. Otherwise, the seeds will be washed away by the water.

Finally, prop up the bamboo strips and cover the seedling field with a layer of tarpaulin to keep it warm. In about two or three days, the seedlings should grow out.

After Xu Han finished tidying up the rice seedling field by herself, it was time to make lunch.

It just so happened that Lu Chuan and his friends had already set up all the vegetable racks outside.

"Have the rice seeds been soaked?" Lu Chuan asked.

"It has been soaked. I have also prepared the rice seedling field in the backyard. Once the rice seeds germinate, we can plant them directly." Xu Han replied.

"That's fine. We haven't planted rice yet! We don't know if we can grow it this year." Lu Chuan said unconfidently.

"It doesn't matter if we can't grow any. We still have other food to eat." Grandpa Zhao continued.

"Don't worry, it will definitely grow. I have seen others grow it before, but I am not sure how much I can harvest.

This is our first time planting rice this year, so if we pay more attention and don’t let the rice fields dry out, there shouldn’t be a big problem.” Xu Han said confidently, but also a little uncertainly.

"If you ask me, you two are just worrying in vain. What are you afraid of? Just plant it. If it fails, try again next year and you will eventually succeed." The Taoist priest advised.

"Yes, the Taoist priest is right. We don't need this bite of food. Don't feel pressured."

Although Xu Han had never grown rice in her previous life, she had seen many videos of rice growing.

And according to Xu Han's previous memory, rice was grown here, and the original owner still had some memories of growing rice.

However, Lu Chuan, Grandpa Zhao and the other two had never grown rice before.

And because they had never grown rice before, although Xu Han had some memories of it, she had slowly forgotten it over time, so the four of them had no confidence in growing rice well.

I can only say try it now, but it shouldn't be a big problem.

"Don't worry, just pay more attention and you will always gain something." Xu Han said with a smile.

"We have already inserted bamboo poles next to all the vegetables this morning. There is nothing important to do in the afternoon, so why don't we take this time to plant the lotus roots." Lu Chuan changed the subject.

"Okay, lotus roots grow very quickly, and we'll be done with them in no time."

"Then let's eat first, take a nap after lunch and then go planting." Xu Han said.

"Well, what are we having for lunch today? I see they haven't started cooking yet?" the Taoist priest asked.

"I was just tending to the rice seedlings in the backyard and didn't have time to make lunch."

"Why not just not cook lunch today and just eat something casually. If you start cooking now, it will be late by the time you finish lunch. You won't have time to take a nap then." Grandpa Zhao said.

"Okay, I'll get some food out of the space. Go wash your hands first. The meal will be ready soon."

After Xu Han finished speaking, she went into the kitchen, took out the food from the space, and brought it to the main room on a tray.

A bowl of braised beef noodles, a bowl of green pepper and egg, a bowl of cold cucumber salad, and a bowl of egg and radish soup are a simple combination of meat and vegetables. It is a hearty meal with both vegetables and soup.

There are dishes and soup, and the staple food must of course be rice.

I have to say that we eat rice more often at home recently than before.