Hard work

Chapter 167 Beekeeping

Spring always comes very fast.

From the first chirping of birds, after the snow at the foot of the mountain began to melt, the whole land seemed to have changed suddenly, and suddenly spring flowers bloomed.Lan Huaer went to the mountain while Zang Lang was busy, and could see that the ice cubes in the stream on the back mountain were already brittle, peeling off piece by piece, colliding with each other in the vortex of the stream, turning around A circle of water splashes came out.

Lan Hua'er had asked Zang Lang to make several wooden barrels that looked like beehives, and there were grid bars inside.She had never kept bees before, so she could only think of trying to imitate those modern beekeepers.

When the flowers bloom in spring, it is exactly the time when the bees divide their nests.

Orchid has only read some related introductions in modern times, and knows the shape and structure of beehives, but she doesn't know how to make bees choose to go into the beehive when they divide their nests.She tried hard to recall for a long time, but she couldn't remember what happened, so she couldn't help feeling a little frustrated.

If she had known that she would travel back to ancient times, she would rather not do anything these years, just squat at home and read books, and memorize all the knowledge she needs in her mind. Get rich.

Lan Hua'er even drank mead in modern times, but she had no idea how the mead was made.

It's no use worrying now.She can only try to smear a little diluted honey in the beehives made by Zang wolves, and place them next to the honeycombs specially left by Zang wolves, hoping to attract queen bees that fly out to build beehives inside. of.

In order to prevent other snakes and insects from being attracted into the boxes by the smell of honey, Lan Huaer asked Zang Lang to sprinkle some realgar circles far away from two of the boxes, hoping to drive away the surrounding ants.However, she didn't know if she would drive away even the bees if she did this, so she didn't dare to enclose all the beehives, leaving two boxes beside them, which were not enclosed by realgar The place.

After the box was released, Orchid couldn't help but run up the back hill to see if the bees had separated their nests, and if any of them got into the box to make a nest.But she also knew that this matter should not be rushed, she ran to see it every day, if the bees were not happy to build a nest in it, it was still useless.If the bees took a fancy to those beehives, even if she didn't care about them, the bees could live well in them.

So although she was very anxious, she still suppressed that anxiety silently, talking about bees over and over again at home.

Zang Lang had no idea what Lan Huaer wanted to do.Although Lan Hua'er had told him about dividing up the nests for the bees before, and also said that they wanted to lure the bees to the valley to raise them, Zang Lang still had no idea about this.Probably in his opinion, no matter whether the bees are nested or not, whether they are raised in captivity or not, he can find honey for them, and there is no need to do such complicated things.

And no matter whether this matter is successful or not, it doesn't have much impact on him, and he doesn't care much about the result of this matter.To him, everything the little lady does is good and can be done.Even the things that Lan Hua'er made with moldy tofu cubes before were so delicious and there was nothing wrong with them, so he felt that as long as his little lady did things, she could do it smoothly.

Especially this kind of thing about eating, as long as it is in Lan Huaer's hands, it will definitely be able to do well.

Lan Hua'er didn't know what he was thinking, if she knew, she probably couldn't help but want to kick him again.The pressure is really great, Lan Hua'er doesn't know what to do in her heart, she will definitely succeed anywhere.

Although it is said that one cannot visit the beehive too often, spring is considered a rainy season after all.Lan Hua'er was thinking about this matter in her heart, no matter how patient she was, she still couldn't help but find time to go to the back mountain to take a look every now and then.

"Besides," Lan Hua'er made an excuse for herself, "there are gradually more people going up the back hill now, maybe someone will see the box and knock it over. You should always check it out.”

Hearing her talking to herself naturally, Zang Lang scratched his head aggrievedly and said:

"Little lady, I choose places that I can't find. If no one goes in, I won't be knocked over casually."

Lan Hua'er was silent, and felt that it was not good to explain to him that she just wanted to find an excuse to run to the back of the mountain to see Duoduo, so she simply ignored him, and arrogantly "hummed" and said:
"I'm happy to go and see, what's the matter. If you are not happy, stop me. Or you can go to the mountain to see for me."

Zang Lang thought for a while, then said:

"Then I will go to the mountain to watch on behalf of the young lady."

Lan Hua'er quickly stopped him.He doesn't know what it's like to divide the bees' nests. He just wants him to go to the back mountain alone, even if he runs every day and ruins his shoes, he doesn't know how to divide it. Well done.

But Zang Lang was very persistent on this matter. Lan Hua'er fought with him for a long time, but in the end they couldn't compete. In the end, Zang Lang could only let Zang Lang lead the way, and the two went to the back mountain together.

In fact, Lan Huaer always felt that this was a waste of labor.

When she went to the mountain, Zang Lang could obviously stay in the village and work, but this person didn't agree, and insisted on pestering her to come to the mountain.Lan Hua'er didn't think she would run into any danger on this familiar back mountain.

But after she ran for a trip, she realized that fortunately, she went to the mountain with Zang Lang.

The place where Zang Lang left the beehive is indeed very secretive. When putting the beehive before, Orchid asked Zang Lang to do it himself. She didn't know where Zang Lang put the beehive. Which mountain crevice is it in? I just heard Zang Lang describe it a few times, so I know the approximate location.

After running with Zang Lang once, Lan Hua'er realized that the place he stayed was really tricky.Even though she had already been taken away by Zang Lang, she still felt that it was impossible for her to find it again.It was only with Zang Lang's help that she took a look at all the beehives.

Sure enough, the bees did not divide their nests so early.

After two wet spring rains, Lan Huaer discovered that there were traces of queen bees in two of the beehives. In order to protect the beehives from the rain, Lan Huaer asked Zang Lang to build a simple awning first. , and then put the beehives below.Probably because of such a rain, the surrounding area became wet and sticky. The queen bee couldn't find any other dry place to build a hive, so she got into the beehive arranged by Orchid.

She didn't dare to pull up the wooden boards to look at them, for fear that it would scare the queen bees who built nests inside, so she didn't put densely packed bamboo mesh boards inside the beehive, but arranged a few loosely, so that the queen bees could feel the inside of the hive. It's a good place to nest.

After seeing traces of the queen bee's activities inside the beehive, Lan Hua'er didn't dare to let Zang Lang move the whole beehive right away. She kept pulling Zang Lang to observe, and waited until she was sure that the queen bee had built the first beehive inside. It was a small hexagon, and when they were resting in the beehive, they asked Zang Lang to move the two beehives together to the beekeeping depression they had found before.

If the queen bee is not in the beehive and they move the beehive again, the queen bee will not be able to find her own beehive after she goes out to forage, and they will probably build another one.In this case, Lan Huaer and Zang Lang's work will be for nothing.

Lan Hua'er is careful, but this did not happen.

After waiting for another rain, queen bees appeared in the remaining beehives.Lan Hua'er didn't expect that she would be able to be such a success in attracting bees for the first time. After being happy for a long time, she hurriedly asked Zang Lang to move all the beehives to the mountain depression, and then knocked down the old beehives. Add some honey to the house.

I used to make honey juice for Zang Lang before, and I used honey to soak the fruit, so there was nothing left at home.This time, I added them all together.

Now that there are more crafts that can make money in the family, Lan Huaer no longer sells the fruit honey she made herself.Anyway, I can't earn much money, so it's better to stay at home and make snacks by myself, or boil warm water and drink a cup every day.Anyway, if you sell it, you won't make much money.

Moreover, Lan Huaer also wanted to try making mead.

Although she doesn't know how to make mead at all, when she thinks about making wine, there is nothing more than a procedure, and the most important thing is the step of fermentation.Now that she has distiller's yeast and honey, she naturally won't miss the chance to try it.

She remembered that in her previous life, everyone said that mead was a noble wine, and that it was the most expensive raw material among all wines.But now she has plenty of raw materials, and she can collect a lot of wild honey from the back mountain every year, and she doesn't care about wasting it.

If it is made, it is definitely a valuable thing.She also specifically asked Guan Ju to confirm that there is no such thing as mead in the capital.

Guan Ju was also very interested in mead, and after listening to Lan Hua'er, he asked me several times.

It's a pity that Lan Hua'er herself is not sure how the mead is made, so she can only give a general idea, vaguely saying that she heard about it when she was outside. Know how to do it.

Guan Ju regretted it for a long time, and told Lan Huaer that if it was brewed, she must have a taste.If you need any materials at home, you can also ask her for help.

(End of this chapter)