Chen Lan and Xiang Xi and a few others hurriedly finished lunch and returned to their busy work. Xiang Xi, accompanied by Lin Mao and Xiao Shuan, each drove a multi-functional agricultural tractor to re-inspect whether the ditches and ridges of the thirty mu of corn fields met the planting requirements. The standards for this issue had been clearly communicated and understood by the three of them by Uncle De during lunch under the shade of the trees.
Now, Chen Lan and Uncle De were discussing what variety of corn to plant under the shade of the trees.
Chen Lan said, "Uncle De, my father-in-law said he has three varieties of high-yield corn seeds there. Which one should we plant in this valley?"
Uncle De replied, "Tell me, what are the varieties of corn seeds? And what are the differences between these three varieties?"
Chen Lan answered, "The first variety is called 'Long Gao'. It is a very high-yield corn seed. Under suitable water and fertilizer conditions, it can produce about one thousand kilograms per mu at its peak. This corn variety is adaptable to a wide range of regions and is more suitable for planting in Heilongjiang province.
"The second variety is called 'Liang Yu'. It is a variety that can be planted densely and is tolerant to close planting. Four thousand five hundred to five thousand corn plants can be planted per mu, with an average yield of about 900 kilograms per mu, and a maximum yield of over 1100 kilograms. It is more suitable for planting in most late-maturing corn growing areas of Liaoning province.
"The third corn variety is called 'Jin Chong'. This corn variety has strong lodging resistance, is drought-tolerant, and also resistant to pests and diseases. The average yield is about 800 to 900 kilograms per mu. If carefully managed and with favorable weather conditions, the yield can also exceed 1100 kilograms per mu. This variety is more suitable for planting in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces.
Uncle De listened to Chen Lan's explanation and, after a moment of thought, said, "Xiao Lan, the corn seed varieties you mentioned are all good, each with its own advantages. If you ask me to choose one, I really don't know how to choose! After all, no one has planted them before.
Uncle De continued, "I've been thinking, since your father-in-law says these three varieties of corn seeds are all suitable for planting in this valley, then let's try planting all of them. You've opened up thirty mu of corn fields today, haven't you? Let's plant ten mu with each variety. Since it's the first time we're planting this year, we can compare the harvests from these thirty mu when we harvest in October at the end of the year, and then we'll know which variety is more suitable for planting in our valley."
Chen Lan thought about it and felt that this was the only way to proceed, so she stopped worrying about which variety of corn to plant.
Next, Chen Lan asked Uncle De, "Uncle De, planting thirty mu of corn this year, will it be enough for our people's food for a year?"
Uncle De thought for a moment and said, "If the harvest from these thirty mu reaches the high yield you mentioned, we can expect to harvest eighty to ninety thousand kilograms of grain in the autumn. We currently have thirty-one people in total, including adults and infants. Counting as thirty people, if each person's food ration is calculated at one thousand jin per month, each person will consume twelve thousand jin per year. Thirty people would need thirty-six thousand jin, which is equivalent to one hundred and eighty thousand kilograms of grain to be enough.
"Xiao Lan, according to this calculation, we need to open up at least another thirty mu of land this year. If they go back to pick up people in October, even with an additional thirty mu, it won't be enough to eat.
Chen Lan did the calculation and realized it was indeed the case. She said to Uncle De, "Uncle De, why don't we open up a total of one hundred mu of land for planting corn, and another twenty mu for planting potatoes? Potatoes can be eaten as a staple food and also as a vegetable. We can also open up the corners and edges to plant peanuts and soybeans. Peanuts and soybeans can also be pressed for oil, and they can be eaten as snacks when we have nothing to do in winter. We also need to plant some vegetables for daily consumption. What do you think?"
Uncle De nodded and replied, "Okay, let's do it!"
Then Chen Lan and Uncle De began to discuss how many jin of seeds would be needed per mu.
Uncle De said, "These are new varieties, and we haven't planted them before. We don't have time to dwell on it now. Let's follow my old method: row spacing of fifty centimeters and plant spacing of thirty-three centimeters."
After discussing with Uncle De, Chen Lan immediately got up and walked towards the thirty mu of corn fields. As she walked, she opened the system with her mind and bought thirty bags of corn seeds for each of the three varieties. One bag can plant one mu, which is what the seed vendors have calculated!
Because they had to catch the right timing, Chen Lan quickly walked to the edge of the field and asked Xiang Xi to take Xiao Shuan and Lin Mao to open up another ninety mu of land, meaning each of them would open up another thirty mu.
Xiang Xi said, "Xiao Lan Zi, so much more land?"
Chen Lan nodded and said, "You guys go and open up the land first, and I'll buy another machine to sow. It's the right time now, and the corn seeds need to be planted quickly."
Xiang Xi heard Chen Lan say they had to rush the agricultural season and was so anxious.
He said, "I'll ask Lin Mao and Xiao Shuan to go and open up the land over there first, and then I'll call Xiao Shan to come and help open up the land. Xiao Lan Zi, please buy another multi-functional agricultural tractor for Xiao Shan to use. I'll arrange for them first and then come back to help you sow the corn."
Without waiting for Chen Lan's reply, he quickly ran away.
Chen Lan quickly bought two more multi-functional hand-held agricultural tractors from the system.
Chen Lan installed the components of the seeder according to the steps shown on the system screen. Fortunately, these components were pre-adjusted by the manufacturer, making it easy for the user to install them quickly!
As soon as the seeder was installed, Chen Lan quickly climbed onto the seeder, took out the corn seeds from the system, and began with the "Long Gao" variety of high-yield corn. She put the corn seeds into the planting trough, started the tractor, and the planting work for the thirty mu of land began.
At this time, the sun in the sky was very strong, making one's scalp ache and feel dizzy. Chen Lan had no choice but to buy a few straw hats from the system. She wore one herself and prepared the rest for Xiang Xi and the others when they arrived, so they wouldn't get heatstroke.
Chen Lan was so engrossed in the great undertaking of planting that she didn't care if her skin would be tanned. She was rushing against time. The year's food for over thirty people had to be planted in these few days, and there was no time to think about anything else, let alone whether her skin would get tanned!
The sowing tractor rumbled back and forth across the thirty mu of black soil. After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Xi ran over to ask Chen Lan for corn seeds. Chen Lan realized that Xiang Xi had already arranged their work and had come to get corn seeds to help with the sowing. Sudanese Novel Network
As the sun set in the west and the sky was filled with the afterglow of dusk, Chen Lan and Xiang Xi finally ended their day of hard labor. They truly understood and felt the scene of farmers toiling laboriously described in the poem, "Hoeing the crops at noon, sweat drips onto the soil. Who knows the meals in the bowl, every grain is hard-earned."