Chapter 21: The Qiu Family

Chapter 21: The Qiu Family

After returning home, Hu Qiuyan and Meng Fuyue, along with Meng Fuyue's husband, began cotton breeding following Qiu Huanian's method.

The breeding trays had been prepared earlier. All they needed was to purchase some bean dregs, mix them with wood ash, and create a special fertilizer according to Qiu Huanian's ratio to soak the seeds. They then coated the seeds with wood ash and dry soil, planting them one by one into the breeding trays.

While Qiu Huanian made it look easy, both families encountered various minor difficulties during the actual process. Qiu Huanian helped them resolve each issue one by one. As more problems and solutions were collected, he gradually began to form some ideas.

Du Yunse noticed Qiu Huanian spreading paper on the table in the main room and went over to help him grind ink. "Brother Hua, what are you planning to write?"

"I want to document all the problems and solutions encountered during the cotton cultivation process. Once it's successful, perhaps it can be compiled into an agricultural book."

Everything must be tailored to local conditions. Qiu Huanian intended to record all the issues and solutions that arose while planting cotton in Du Village. This way, people in areas with similar climates could learn to grow cotton, and others might find useful methods as well.

Growing cotton, a rare and lucrative skill, was closely guarded by many. Yet, Qiu Huanian expressed a desire to publish an agricultural book. Du Yunse's eyes shone with emotion. "Aren't you concerned about outsiders learning it?"

"Why should I be concerned about that?" Qiu Huanian laughed. "I wish it could spread across the entire country, enriching the fields, ensuring abundant harvests, and providing the people with ample clothing and endless cotton."

Compared to the comforts of modern life, ancient society was resource-scarce. With low productivity and most resources controlled by the upper class, the lives of the common people were extremely difficult.

Qiu Huanian knew his influence was limited, but he would never withhold methods to efficiently increase agricultural yields for personal gain.

Du Yunse was profoundly touched by Qiu Huanian's ambition and concern for the people. After a long pause, he set down the ink stick, extended his hands, and bowed solemnly.

"I was mistaken. Huanian, your heart embraces the world. I am ashamed of my own limitations."

Qiu Huanian felt a bit embarrassed and quickly helped him up. The warm, smooth touch of their skin made Qiu Huanian pull back as if burned.

"I'm just jotting down useful information first. Whether the book will be compiled is still uncertain."

Du Yunse noticed he was using coarse bamboo paper meant for children's calligraphy practice and shook his head. "Coarse bamboo paper makes writing feel stiff, and over time, the characters may warp. You should use rice paper instead."

Qiu Huanian refused, "I'm just drafting. As long as I can write, it's fine. The rice paper Magistrate Wang gave should be saved for your use."

Thinking of using three-coins-per-sheet rice paper to record farming data or draw stick figures made Qiu Huanian's heart ache.

After writing for a while, he suddenly remembered something and reminded Du Yunse, "Don't skimp on paper when you study, understand? If you run out, I'll buy more. Distinguish between primary and secondary goals—your main focus should be achieving good exam results."

Du Yunse reluctantly agreed, his gaze at Qiu Huanian as gentle as a spring pond dotted with peach blossoms.

A few days later, the cotton seedlings indeed sprouted, with a germination rate exceeding eighty percent, leaving Bao Ren, who had heard how difficult cotton sprouting was, thoroughly impressed.

However, Qiu Huanian was not entirely satisfied with the seedlings. Perhaps due to the homemade fertilizer not matching the effectiveness of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, the seedlings' robustness fell short of his expectations.

After some thought, he created a more diluted version of the homemade fertilizer and sprayed it at the base of the seedlings every morning, lifting the breeding trays and spraying through the willow slats.

When he had designed the willow breeding trays, he had intentionally left gaps at the bottom for this purpose. Modern cotton breeding trays also have small holes at the bottom, allowing the foam trays to float on nutrient solutions, enabling the seedlings to absorb nutrients and grow more robustly.

After this remedy, the cotton seedlings in several households finally began to develop as expected. Qiu Huanian recorded this on bamboo paper, drawing a simple operational diagram beside it.

Since there was no need to plow the fields for the time being, Qiu Huanian's mule had been idle. Villagers came to borrow the mule for plowing, and as long as the schedule allowed, Qiu Huanian agreed to all requests without charge, limiting each family to one day, provided they fed the mule with grain-enriched feed.

Now, the Qiu family was highly praised throughout the village. The earlier ridicule about his unrealistic cotton planting had gradually faded. Wherever Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng went, villagers would naturally look after them, much to the annoyance of Zhao and Li Guer.

Wei Liuhua sat on the kang in the side room, sewing clothes stitch by stitch. Youge, whose face had gradually become fair and tender, crawled around beside her. Hearing Li Guer gossiping with Zhao in the courtyard again, Wei Liuhua couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly.

Not doing needlework, not going to the fields, not entering the kitchen—Li Guer did nothing but eat and drink for free, spending her days spreading rumors. Recently, under the pretext of accompanying Du Yunjing to the prefectural city, she had become even more unbearable, giving Wei Liuhua constant cold looks. Wei Liuhua had endured Li Guer for far too long!

While listening, Wei Liuhua never stopped her work. As her needle flew, lifelike flowers began to take shape on the fabric.

She had taught herself all these skills over the years. Wei Liuhua had a natural talent for needlework. Just by glancing at a piece of clothing, she could understand how it was cut and sewn. With a pattern to reference, she could figure out the specific embroidery techniques.

Wei Liuhua raised an eyebrow as she heard someone entering the courtyard. Zhao, unusually, asked Li Guer to take Fu Bao outside while she received the guest in the main room.

Wei Liuhua hesitated for a moment, then gestured to Youge to keep quiet. She grabbed her sewing and stepped out, pretending to go into the sunlight to thread her needle, intending to eavesdrop. Youge obediently nodded without making a fuss, watching his mother leave the side room.

Wei Liuhua walked lightly to the outside of the main room, positioning herself in a blind spot where she couldn't be seen, and listened carefully.

The guest was a woman somewhat younger than Zhao, with a voice Wei Liuhua didn't recognize. "Zhao, it's been over half a month, and my son and nephew still haven't been released. You must give our Qiu family an explanation!"

Wei Liuhua was startled. She had forgotten about Zhao sending someone to Shangliang Village to cause trouble for Qiu Huanian, never hearing the outcome. Little did she know that something significant had already happened behind the scenes, and the Qiu family had come to demand an explanation.

In the main room, Zhao held her ground firmly. "Zhou, your two young men from the Qiu family were taken by the county magistrate for some unknown offense. If you want answers, go to the county office to lodge a complaint. What can I possibly offer you?"

Zhou's anger flared. "Stop pretending! If it weren't for your instigation, how could they have come up with such ideas and gotten arrested?"

Zhao sneered, "You know very well why Qiu Huanian couldn't stay with the Qiu family and was sold to Du Village. Don't act all innocent. I only told you out of kindness that he had become successful. I didn't tell you to hire kidnappers to abduct him. That was your own decision. Don't blame me."

"It was you who sent someone to Shangliang Village to tell us that Brother Hua, whom we sold to Du Village, had grown into a handsome and capable young man, and that we could find a way to get more money for him!"

"I only gave you a heads-up, suggesting you negotiate with him yourselves. Who told you to do something illegal that landed you in jail?"

Zhao stood up with confidence. "I advise you to go back and prepare for the worst. If you really dared to make a scene, you wouldn't have come to me quietly. Even if you spread these words, I can easily clear my name. But you, for withholding information, might end up in jail with your son!"

Wei Liuhua listened, her heart pounding with fear. Seeing that the people in the main room were about to come out, she quickly ran back to the west wing. As soon as she closed the door, she heard Zhou storming out of the courtyard, while Zhao shouted from the main room, "Don't come bothering me again!"

Wei Liuhua didn't dare let Zhao know she had overheard the conversation in the main room. She lingered in the west wing until it was time to cook dinner before stepping out. At the dinner table, Zhao still placed all the good dishes in front of herself and Fu Bao. Anyone else who dared to take a bite would be met with sarcastic remarks.

After dinner, Zhao wiped her mouth and announced, "I've thought about it, and I think it's better if your father and I personally accompany Yun Jing to the prefectural city for the imperial examination. I'll feel more at ease that way."

The others were puzzled by her sudden change of mind, but Wei Liuhua guessed that Zhao was afraid the Qiu family would keep causing trouble and wanted to avoid the situation for a while.

"Mom, I want to go too! I want to go too!" Fu Bao clamored beside her.

"Of course, how could I leave my darling behind? We'll hire a carriage and go together."

Zhao wouldn't let Youge eat at the table. Yun Hu glanced sadly at the chubby Fu Bao, who was cuddling in Zhao's arms, and coughed lightly. "Then Liuhua won't go. Otherwise, I won't be able to take care of the fields alone."

Zhao hesitated. She was going out to avoid trouble, not to suffer. If she didn't bring someone to do the work, wouldn't she have to do everything herself along the way?

Seeing this, Li Guer quickly said, "Sister-in-law Liuhua can stay. Uncle and aunt can take me instead."

Zhao frowned at the eager Li Guer. She didn't particularly like this cheap niece, but she was willing to let her live off them for free. On one hand, Li Guer was clever and sweet-talking, always saying things that pleased Zhao; on the other hand, Li Guer was getting older, and in a couple of years, she could be married off, earning them a dowry.

Zhao knew Li Guer didn't like to work, but since the one being oppressed was her disliked daughter-in-law Wei Liuhua, she had never intervened. If Li Guer were to go alone with her, she probably wouldn't dare to slack off.

Staying in the prefectural city for over a month, it was better to bring someone who could talk than someone she disliked.

After thinking it through, Zhao nodded. "Then we'll all go. The eldest son and his wife will stay to take care of the house and fields."

That night, back in their room, Yun Hu whispered to his wife in confusion, "I don't know why mom suddenly changed her mind. Taking the whole family to the prefectural city will cost a lot, but for us, it's the best outcome. You can stay and take care of Youge."

Wei Liuhua nodded, but her heart was still uneasy. She recounted what she had overheard during the day to her husband and said worriedly, "I need to find a chance early tomorrow to tell Brother Hua about this. Otherwise, I just can't feel at ease."