farming female castellan

Chapter 246 Ranch Plan, Winter Solstice

"In the past few days, the ground has been digging everywhere, and we have turned around a few times to discuss the planting plan. You must have noticed that the soil is different. The bricks are made of yellow clay, and the one that gets wet at night is yellow tide soil. , There are swamp soils in swamps, and there are lime soils, yellow sand soils, and lake sand soils, etc.”

I have never mentioned so many soil names before.Chen Zhongyan looked at Chen Fan thirsty for knowledge.

"If Changping Township wants to expand the planting area and increase crop yields, it must know what kind of soil there is and what kind of plants are suitable for it."

Chen Zhongyan nodded: "Sweet potatoes can be planted on barren land, and sesame seeds can be planted on sandy soil. The state capital and county government should also understand the local soil conditions."

Chen Fan gave him a thumbs up: "There are also sunshine, hydrology and weather, many influencing factors."

She asks a question. "What do the roots of a plant do?"

"Absorb the water and nutrients in the soil." Chen Zhongyan replied.

"Yes, there are many nutrients in the soil, if you give them a name, you can call them nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and others. Manure can be fertilized, that is, they can produce nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers that crops need."

Chen Zhongyan's expression was a little uncomfortable.Even after staying in the field for several months, he still has a little reluctance to manure.

Chen Fan pointed to several plants in his hand and said: "Alfalfa has a very well-developed root system, which can intercept nitrogen in the air and transform it into the nutrients it needs. Its roots can also fix nitrogen fertilizer in the soil and improve soil fertility. , and can also lock in moisture, so dry areas are very suitable for planting."

Chen Zhongyan suddenly realized.

"Alfalfa is highly adaptable, resistant to cold and drought, and can survive the winter safely even in icy and snowy weather. It is just right to plant it in Changping Township. Milkvetch may grow slower, but it can grow." Chen Fan told him.

"By next year, those wastelands will be more fertile." Chen Zhongyan was very happy.

They got up and walked back.

"Where is the best place to build the ranch?" Chen Zhongyan was very concerned about this matter.

"Have you always wanted to have a ranch, or did you suddenly get a reminder today?" Chen Fan looked at him with a smile.

"I've always wanted to have one. It's just that Changping Township urgently needs to expand its land area and diversify its crops. I'm embarrassed to mention the pasture." Chen Zhongyan said shyly.

"The pasture can be built in a place that is extremely barren and difficult to improve, without affecting the cultivation of grain. I have always wanted to have a pasture, and now I finally have enough land." Chen Fan wanted to pat him on the shoulder, but held back.

Sensing her gaze, Chen Zhongyan took the initiative to stretch his shoulders over: "You can take pictures before I get married."

Chen Fan wanted to laugh, but controlled it, patted his shoulder twice, put his arms around his shoulder and walked forward a few steps.

When everyone came back, Chen Fan talked about the grass seeds that Xiao Liangqi had sent, and his plan to build a pasture.

The children all cheered.

"I've always wanted to have a ranch!" Chen Zhongzhu was very excited.

"Then why haven't you said it?" Chen Zhongyan asked him.

Chen Zhongzhu chuckled twice: "Isn't it more important to grow grain? If there is less grain grown, the people's taxes will be heavier. I'm afraid that building a pasture will affect grain growing."

Chen Fan and Zhang Ci looked at each other and smiled.These children are all thinking about it.

"Where do you want to build the ranch?" Zhang Ci proposed a discussion.

The children discussed lively for a while, and unanimously decided on two options: an open space in the south of Xiangjun's mansion, which is close to the mansion and convenient; another is in the forest area to the north, where it feels better to be close to the mountains and woods.

Chen Fan nodded: "All can be considered."

Planting pastures was quickly arranged.Chen Zhongyan is responsible for manpower deployment, and Chen Fan is responsible for technical guidance.

Three days later, the Xiangjun Mansion received the post.The magistrate's wife of Yuanfeng held a banquet on the second day of the winter month, which was the second day of the winter solstice.

The winter solstice is as big as the year, and many dynasties have the custom of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors. Perhaps the Daxiang Dynasty is also very busy on the day of the winter solstice.

"What are we going to do on the winter solstice?" she asked Zhang Ci.

"The emperor will worship the sky, and the people will worship the ancestors."

In this time and space, who would she offer sacrifices to her ancestors?To her former ancestors?
"We don't need to be busy with these two things, just think about how to eat." Zhang Ci smiled.

Chen Fan forced a smile: "Don't you need to follow the formalities?"

"No, people don't worship their ancestors in every family."

Then don't bother.

"Before and after the winter solstice, it is a good time to build water conservancy and accumulate manure. How about sending a corvee? There are too few canals here, and the east is dry land." Chen Fan blinked.

Zhang Ci smiled: "Let's pay for the grain. The corvee will be sent after the grain harvest next year. Although some people have bad mouths, the appeal of the Xiangjun Mansion still depends on the grain harvest."

Chen Fan nodded: "Well, they are busy chopping firewood these days, let's arrange it later. Let them earn some food for the New Year."

In addition to copper coins, food is also a means of payment.When there is food, the common people can exchange the items they need.

"Do you need to give gifts during the winter solstice?" Chen Fan didn't understand this either.

"You are of high rank, so if you want to send it, the county magistrate will send it first. If they send it over, you can return the gift as appropriate. If you don't send it over, it will save some trouble."

High grade is good.

"Where is the governor?" The governor is a third-rank official, or the superior of the county and township.

"Which state does Changping Township belong to?" Zhang Ci asked her.

Chen Fan thought for a while, but couldn't answer.

"Changping Township does not belong to Qingzhou, Pingzhou, or Xizhou. The governor doesn't care about it."

So capricious?
"The capital still plans to send some things there, after all, we have been in touch for so many days." Chen Fan suggested.

Zhang Ci's eyes lit up: "Okay."

The academy distributed a winter solstice gift to the students: a pen and two pieces of paper, announcing the winter solstice holiday.The Xiangjun Mansion distributed a winter solstice gift to the elderly over the age of 50: one catty of polished rice, one tael of salt and two taels of brown sugar.The children pressed the pen and paper to their chests as if they had found a treasure.The old people were so excited that their eyes filled with tears. After living for decades, this was the first time someone gave them a gift, and it was such an expensive gift.

The mansion also distributed winter solstice gifts to the servants everywhere, and Chen Zhongzhu and Chen Ya's family also sent some food and cloth, which was grace and prestige.

On the winter solstice, there is a custom of drinking sheep soup, and a sheep was slaughtered in the house.Chen Fan also sent a sheep to the Liu family, but he could only send one, because the number of sheep was too small after all.

"This is the first time our family has slaughtered sheep. Previously, sheep were slaughtered because of guests." Chen Zhongliang sighed.

The whole government is celebrating the winter solstice lively.Chen Fan and the children worked together to make dumplings, wontons, and glutinous rice balls.The mutton feast at noon made the children feast on it, and they were very happy.

"Is there a saying that people are one year older after the winter solstice?" Chen Fan asked the children.

Everyone nodded, and Chen Zhongxuan added: "There is also a saying that eating glutinous rice balls will make you one year older."

Zhang Ci smiled: "We eat glutinous rice balls today, which is the winter solstice round. May we be reunited and happy."

The children cheered: "Reunion round, happy and happy."

"Let's drink rice wine until dinner. I've eaten a lot at noon, so it's not good to drink any more," Chen Fan said.

In the afternoon, everyone drew nine at home.Zhang Ci painted a plain plum, saying that it has 81 petals, one petal is dyed every day, and it is completely covered, which is exactly nine nine plus one nine, and the cattle are walking everywhere.

"What if I forget one day, or if I double-paint one day, what should I do?" Bear kids always have ideas.

"Then spring will come early or late." Zhang Ci was quite cooperative.

At dinner time, a small bowl of rice wine was placed in front of each child.

"It's fine to drink a small bowl of wine. You can sleep when you're drunk." Zhang Ci said with a smile.

The children all took a sip with different expressions.Then there's the slow-drinking booze.

(End of this chapter)