A Small Farmer Girl 's Story of Making a Fortune by Farming

81

When a basket full of vegetables and fruits was delivered to the Si family, the previous passive feeling had long disappeared. Shen Yao was just like when he was a child, constantly talking to Xuan about the construction of greenhouses, the planting of off-season vegetables, and the recent trivial matters in the village.

　　Shen Yao talked non-stop, Si Xuanzhi listened silently, and handed him a glass of water from time to time.

　　At the end, Shen Yao asked Si Xuanzhi how long he would stay this time.

　　Only then did Si Xuanzhi talk about coming back to take part in the county examination.

　　Shen Yao thought Si Xuanzhi was just coming back to visit his family, but she didn't expect that he was coming back for the county exam. Based on her understanding of Si Xuanzhi, he would definitely pass the exam.

　　In this era, the imperial examinations had to be taken in the place where one's household registration was located. If one passed the county examination and then took the higher examination, one would go to Yongping Prefecture.

　　It seems that Si Xuanzhi will stay in Dalui Village for a while.

　　Si Xuanzhi did not say much about the imperial examination. Instead, he mentioned that if Shen Yao needed agricultural books or seeds, he could tell him and he could ask his uncle to get some.

　　These words touched Shen Yao's heart, so he said shamelessly: "I really have something to trouble Brother Xuanzhi."

　　Si Xuanzhi found it funny.

　　In the morning, Yaoyao had called him by his name, Si Xuanzhi. Now that she had something to ask of him, she called him "Brother Xuanzhi".

　　"I need rice seeds from several places, such as the capital and Jiangnan. I wonder if Brother Xuanzhi has any connections."

　　"If you just want some rice seeds, it's a small matter. But I don't know what Yaoyao wants the rice seeds for?" Si Xuanzhi thought it was a big deal, but it turned out to be just some rice seeds.

　　Shen Yao did not hide anything and explained, "The entire Yongping Prefecture grows the same kind of japonica rice. Although the rice is of good quality, the yield is extremely low. So I thought about looking for some rice seeds from other places to see if there is any way to increase the rice yield."

　　"Yeah." Si Xuanzhi nodded lightly and didn't ask any more questions.

　　He didn't know much about the things happening in the fields, but he knew that Yaoyao had put his heart and soul into the fields and wanted to make a career out of it.

　　If we can really find a way to increase the yield, it will be a great achievement that benefits both the country and the people. My uncle has his own caravan and often travels to various places. It would be a good idea for him to buy some rice seeds while he is doing business.

　　Besides, his father was working in South Vietnam. He heard that rice could be grown twice a year there, so he could write a letter to his father and ask someone to bring back some rice seeds.
Before I knew it, it was already noon.

　　Shen Yao quickly stopped talking and said no more. After thanking him, he went to the backyard to get the empty basket and left Si's house.

　　That night, Si Xuanzhi wrote two letters, one to Jinling and the other to Nanyue.

　　The county examination is held in February, and the results are announced half a month later.

　　There is a peach tree planted in front of the Shen family's courtyard. This year is the third year. The peach tree is not tall, but the pink peach blossoms are blooming all over the tree. When the wind blows, the peach blossoms fall to the ground. When the person who brought the good news came, Shen Yao was squatting on the ground picking peach blossoms.