Reassurance
The three methods listed by the author have different stages of development. Manbao believes that one of the methods is similar to the current home method of fermenting manure, but it is slow and requires a longer fermentation time.
The current method they are using involves implementing insulation measures and reprocessing the materials that are discarded for a second time, which significantly increases efficiency.
Due to the recent warm weather, Manbao and the others have decided to plant ginger soon. They will require a significant amount of farm manure, so she chose this approach.
Seeing that her father did not blame her, Manbao's courage grew, and she proudly said to him, "Father, I am considering whether this method will be successful or not, so I let my fourth brother try it first. "I will inform you when it is successful."
Old Zhou was indeed pleased and patted his daughter's head, saying, "Manbao, you have considered everything thoroughly." Just now, your eldest brother and I took a look. This method is indeed good. You have only been digging this pit for seven or eight days, and it has already started fermenting. In a few more days, it may even start to decompose.
Manbao's spirits lifted, and she immediately said, "The book says that we need to control the temperature." If it gets too hot, the nutrients will be burned off. So, when the temperature is too high, we need to open windows for ventilation or let it dry in the sun. When the temperature drops, we can pile it up again and pour some manure water for a second round of fermentation. Father, do you think our temperature is high enough?
Old Zhou didn't know because he had never used this method before. He had never even heard that the temperature of the manure pile should not be too high.
But he had been farming for a lifetime, so even if he didn't understand, he could figure it out. Unlike Zhou Silang, who simply followed Manbao's instructions.
After a moment of thought, he asked his eldest son to open the grass cover again and turn the manure.
Several sons were left by Old Zhou, and, of course, Manbao, the only literate and knowledgeable one, was also left behind. The others and the children went back first.
Zhou Xi took a glance at the children standing among the adults and then helped her mother back home.
Obviously, the issue of the manure was significant, and the entire family was involved. When Zhou Xi discovered that Zhou Silang had used her as a cover to steal manure, she was so angry that she almost couldn't resist hitting him on the spot. With Manbao's appearance, her mood had been fluctuating, but now it has calmed down.
The Zhou family members walking back were very quiet. Qian Shi asked the older ones to run home first, and she walked slowly, holding Zhou Xi's hand, saying, "You are too impatient. When you are impatient, you make mistakes." "You need to be more steady in the future."
Qian Shi laughed and said, "You should learn from your younger sister." Look how cautious she was just now, and she even knew to check your father's expression first.
Zhou Xi couldn't help but say, "That child is so clever."
Zhou Xi, holding her mother's hand, couldn't help but speak her mind, "Mother, if I don't get married in the future, will you take care of Manbao for me?"
Qian Shi was surprised and frowned, "Why are you thinking like this?" Manbao is already six years old, and she is still...
Qian Shi didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was very clear.
Zhou Xi said, "I don't want her to call me mother." I aspire to have a child with whom I can share closeness in the future. When I am old and about to die, I want someone to come and see me, to know whether I am alive or dead. Mother, I really don't want to get married.
Qian Shi kept a straight face and remained silent. Zhou Xi observed her expression and refrained from saying more, but her emotions were clearly visible.
Manbao was unaware of this. She was squatting far away, watching her brothers being instructed by her father to dig out and spread the manure from the pit.
Indeed, the temperature in the middle of the manure pile was very high. Although Old Zhou had never encountered this situation before, he knew that it was burning, based on what his daughter had said about the high temperature burning the manure.
So, he had the manure spread out to dry. Upon inspection, they noticed that the basket of rotten leaves, which had been thrown in first, had turned black overnight. Just a touch with a hoe, and they crumbled into pieces much faster than the straw they had piled up.
Nowadays, manure is typically piled up for a year.
From the end of summer to early spring, it takes half a year for the straw to decompose. This was a new method learned from outside the village. Previously, straw did not decompose.
Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang couldn't help but exchange glances. They both felt that their daughter was indeed like her father. The new method of piling manure in the village was obtained by her father in exchange for two steamed buns.
Old Zhou rubbed the manure with his hands and was satisfied, "Not bad." Let it dry overnight, and we'll stack it back up tomorrow.
He added, "If this method works, we will dig a manure pit at home to increase the speed and quantity of manure."
Manbao's new method will require less animal manure but more dry leaves and other soil. This meant that with the same amount of animal manure, they could produce more fertilizer.
For rural residents, the most challenging aspect of farm manure management is dealing with animal manure, as not every household owns a large number of livestock.
The reason they had it was that they had a large family and raised a lot of chickens.
Old Zhou planned to dig two large manure pits at the edge of the manure pile at home while the rice seeds had not yet been planted. As for the manure needed for the rice seeds, they would borrow from the manure pile of the fourth son. After all, didn't this kid steal manure from the family?
Let him use this to make up for it.
When Zhou Silang heard that he didn't have to endure punishment as long as he made up for the manure, he immediately agreed, completely ignoring the other owner's opinion.
Manbao, concerned about her ginger, hurriedly said to Old Zhou, "Father, you can have the manure from this pit as compensation." "When I need manure for planting ginger, you have to give it back to me."
"Why do you still want it back if you said it's compensation?"
"I don't care, I want it back." Otherwise, my ginger won't grow well.
Old Zhou noticed that his daughter had a strong inclination towards farming, and he laughed heartily. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll give it back to you."
He dug another manure pit because he didn't have much else, only a lot of sons, whom he sent to the mountains to dig mud and sweep rotten leaves. They could get as much manure as they needed.
The sons: ...
Manbao, unaware of all this, happily held her father's hand and went home after receiving Old Zhou's approval. Zhou Liulang wanted to carry her school bag for her, but Old Zhou refused.
Old Zhou personally carried her school bag and held her little hand, earnestly advising her, "Manbao, you must study hard at school and listen to Master Zhuang. Do you understand?"
Manbao nodded.
He continued, "Read more books, especially those about manure and farming." If there's anything good in the books, you must tell me. When the family makes money, I'll buy you some meat to eat.
"Father, you said the same thing last time, that you would buy me meat when the family makes money, but you didn't." In the end, I bought it myself.
Old Zhou was caught off guard and chuckled, "Your mother is the one who holds the money." Do you want to eat meat? "Then tell your mother, and she'll give you the money."
"Even if you call it compensation, I still want it back." Otherwise, my ginger won't grow well.
Old Zhou noticed that his daughter had a strong inclination towards farming, and he laughed heartily. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll give it back to you."
He dug another manure pit because he didn't have much else, only a lot of sons, whom he sent to the mountains to dig mud and sweep rotten leaves. They could get as much manure as they needed.
The sons: ...
Manbao, unaware of all this, happily held her father's hand and went home after receiving Old Zhou's approval. Zhou Liulang wanted to carry her school bag for her, but Old Zhou refused.
Old Zhou personally carried her school bag and held her little hand, earnestly advising her, "Manbao, you must study hard at school and listen to Master Zhuang." Do you understand?
Manbao nodded.
He continued, "Read more books, especially those about manure and farming. If there's anything good in the books, you must tell me." "When the family earns money, I'll buy you some meat to eat."
"Father, you said the same thing last time, that you would buy me meat when the family makes money, but you didn't." In the end, I bought it myself.
Old Zhou was caught off guard and chuckled, "Your mother is the one who holds the money." Do you want to eat meat? Then tell your mother, and she'll give you the money.