The Sweet Little Fulang

Chapter 122

The wheat straw emits a strong smell, and Lu Gu and Shen Xuanqing are sitting in the spacious hall of their new house, tying scarecrows.

After harvesting the wheat, they hired people to plough the land and replant 10 mu of firewood beans and 3 mu of groundnuts. When the groundnuts were ready in September or October, they wouldn't need to buy peanuts for cooking or Chinese New Year hospitality. Saving equals gaining.

Once the wheat is harvested, there's no shelter in the dry field, and the birds always swoop down and feast on it. It's distressing to see the firewood beans or groundnuts being devoured by them.

"It's not too hot in the morning, and it's cool under the house," Shen Xuanqing remarked while bundling wheat straw. "The fenced area is good; the chickens won't need to be caged. I'm thinking of sprinkling some grass and rapeseed seeds inside, so they can peck and eat without much hassle."

"Do you want to scatter rapeseeds too?" Lu Gu asked, wrapping wheat straw around sticks to make scarecrows.

Shen Xuanqing nodded, "Yes, there are a lot of families around here. I heard people at Liangzhang Bridge say that mixing chopped vegetables and chicken grass can help chickens and ducks grow meat and lay eggs. Let’s give it a try; it's easy to sprinkle them around, and with a bit of watering, let’s see if they grow."

"Sounds good," Lu Gu agreed as they continued making scarecrows. Once finished, they moved on to the next one.

In summer, even the dog was lazy to move. It lay at Lu Gu's feet, sniffing the scarecrow on the ground. Lu Gu patted its head, and it lazily closed its eyes.

Shen Xuanqing suggested, "With the house being so big, just having Da Bai might not be enough. Uncle Jinhu's big yellow dog will have puppies in a month. I think we should bring two back to raise; it'll make us feel safer at night."

Lu Gu agreed, "I trust your judgment."

As Shen Yan approached with a basket of grass for the rabbits, she mentioned, "The house is quite spacious. With Dabai alone, it might not suffice. Uncle Jinhu's big yellow dog is due to give birth soon. I think we should bring two puppies home for added security."

After a quick break, Shen Yan returned home to continue her work. Lu Gu proceeded to feed the rabbits while Shen Xuanqing shoveled the cattle and sheep pens to keep the flies at bay.

The livestock pens were built strategically to prevent odors from drifting into the main house. Lu Gu and Shen Xuanqing were proud of their thriving livestock, despite the daily chores it entailed.

Later, Lu Gu took the calf for a swim in the river, enjoying the coolness under the shade of the trees.

In the afternoon, Wei Lanxiang released the ducks to swim, and Ji Qiuyue suggested going for a walk, accompanied by Lu Gu and Shen Yan.

As they walked, Shen Yan commented on the sourness of the apricots, prompting Ji Qiuyue to offer her own. They discussed the upcoming peach harvest and their plans to purchase some from a neighboring village.

Back at the village, they encountered Aunt Wu picking up wheat grains from the field. Shen Yan and Lu Gu helped her gather the grains, showing kindness to their neighbor.

The next day, Lu Gu and Ji Qiuyue visited the village doctor for a check-up. Though relieved by the doctor's positive prognosis, Shen Xuanqing expressed his intention to ensure their health by providing nutritious meals.

Despite their initial worries, the day ended on a hopeful note as they returned home, united in their determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead.