Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Raising Rice Paddy Fish_1 Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Raising Rice Paddy Fish_1 Xiao Changyi said, “Three or four loads.”
“So little…” An Jing frowned, somewhat missing the modern hybrid rice, which had a very high yield.
However, the land in ancient times was more barren than in modern times. Even what was considered medium-quality rice paddy would be low quality by today’s standards, after all, there were no chemical fertilizers to use.
“Then next year we’ll switch to wheat, which yields more than rice,” Xiao Changyi suggested.
An Jing shook her head, “No need, I’m not accustomed to it, rice is better.”
She was from the Southern region, used to eating rice, which meant that eating more wheat-based foods could cause her to “catch fire.” Now, economic conditions limited her from eating rice, but in the future, she was determined to eat rice and make it the staple food for her and Xiao Changyi.
Xiao Changyi silently took note of An Jing’s distaste for wheat-based foods, planning to make another trip to the town tomorrow to buy some polished rice to bring back.
Standing on the farm ridge, An Jing wasn’t looking at Xiao Changyi but was frowning at the acre of paddy in front of her, pondering how to increase its yield, as the rice production was just too low.
And the method to increase the yield of rice…
An Jing carefully recalled the time she spent living in the countryside with her grandparents, and thought of how they raised “rice-flower fish” in the rice paddies; her eyes immediately lit up.
“Xiao Changyi,” An Jing immediately turned her head to look at Xiao Changyi, her face and eyes full of excitement, “we could raise some fish in this paddy.”
“Yes!” An Jing nodded excitedly, “The fish can eat the pests and weeds in the paddy, their waste can serve as fertilizer, and moreover, the movement of the fish can stir the soil and help decompose the fertilizer, providing better growing conditions for the rice, increasing the yield.”
Upon hearing the words “increase the yield,” Xiao Changyi’s eyes flickered.
Thinking about it, An Jing conservative estimated, “Generally, it should increase the yield by about ten percent.”
As she spoke, she laughed again, “The most important thing is, not only will the rice yield increase, but we’ll also be able to sell the fish and make some money. I’m telling you, the fish raised in the paddy fields mainly eat the rice flowers, which makes their flesh tender, with a fragrance of rice flowers, simply unmatched~”
An Jing still remembered the scene when her grandfather cooked rice-flower fish for her; she almost drank the soup along with it. The taste of that rice-flower fish was simply too delicious, and now just thinking about it made her mouth water, longing to eat it again.
“What do you think, good idea?” An Jing looked at Xiao Changyi, her brows and eyes curved with a smile.
Seeing An Jing so spirited, as if she had an endless supply of energy, Xiao Changyi, although expressionless, was quite pleased inside and nodded, “Hmm.”
“Then let’s buy some fish fry for the paddy tomorrow, it’s just the right time now.” Usually, the fish raised in the rice fields are placed about a month after the rice seedlings are transplanted, and now was indeed the perfect timing.
“And when the fish grow up, I’ll cook rice-flower fish for you to eat, guaranteed to be delicious!”
Rice-flower fish? Xiao Changyi pupil’s contracted slightly, but he didn’t ask anything, and just nodded, saying, “Okay.”
After looking at the rice paddy, Xiao Changyi also took the opportunity to carry An Jing up the mountain, digging some wild vegetables on the way.
After digging the wild vegetables, Xiao Changyi had An Jing carry the bamboo basket filled with them, and then he carried An Jing on his back, down the mountain.
On the way home, it was rare that unmarried girls from the village shyly stood by the roadside, greeting Xiao Changyi, but he ignored them entirely, carrying An Jing straight home.
Lying on Xiao Changyi’s back, An Jing glanced back at the girl and teased, “Big tycoon, why don’t you just not marry me, after all, I can’t have children, marry her instead. She seems quite interested in you now. If you propose marriage, it should work out.”