My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 104 Part 2

Ji Taoyu's heart stirred, he had heard Huo Shu mention this matter briefly.

The villagers ultimately had a conscience and didn't think everything Huo Shu did was obligatory.

To put it in perspective, whether it was fleeing disaster and relocating, construction, defense, or teaching them horseback riding, archery, and self-defense methods, etc., these were not things they were obliged to do.

Since arriving in Lin Village, for over half a year, their family had not received any benefits from the villagers. On the contrary, they had been providing care and subsidies for everything.

They remembered the kindness and were willing to offer a portion of their grain as tribute. Ji Taoyu had no objections, after all, their family wasn't running a charity.

If they wished to continue receiving such dedicated assistance in the future, it was only natural that there be a fair exchange—effort and resources had to flow both ways.

Huo Shu probably thought the same as him and accepted the villagers' spontaneous proposal.

Because of this, the village wanted to open up paddy fields, which also related to their future income and expenses. That's why he took time out to go and have a look.

Just as they were talking, Huo Shu returned.

"How is the progress on the paddy fields outside?"

Huo Shu approached and replied to Ji Taoyu: "Those working quickly have already begun leveling the land and constructing irrigation ponds. Those proceeding more slowly are still in the planning stages, determining the size and layout of their fields."

"It sounds like demanding labor."

Huo Shu gave an affirmative grunt.

"How long until dinner?"

Ji Yangzong came running over carrying several jars of liquor. It was unclear how much he had already drunk, but he reeked of alcohol. Seeing that Huo Shu was back, he said with a smile: "The liquor is brewed, it tastes very good. Go try some quickly."

"Haven't you filled your belly with enough liquor already? Are you still not full?"

Huang Manjing couldn't help but snap at Ji Yangzong.

"I plan to bring some over to Eldest Brother's and Second Brother's households. I'm only asking about the meal time because I don't want my errand to delay our dinner, see what you're saying."

"You're always so impatient. The liquor has barely finished brewing and you're already rushing out to deliver it. Their entire family are devoted liquor drinkers, after all."

Ji Taoyu noticed his father carrying a considerable number of jars. With many households belonging to their family lineage, he wasn't sure how long delivering to all of them would take.

He looked at Huo Shu and said: "Go help father deliver to a couple of households. This liquor needs to be given to a few uncles and elders to try."

Huo Shu agreed.

He carried several jars of liquor and helped deliver to two households.

Huo Shu first went to the Deng family, which was Ji Xinzhe's husband's family.

The Deng family's house was completed at the end of last month. Originally, the whole family lived in the large compound, but once the house was built, they moved in without delay.

Old Master Deng was a scholar, and his wife also came from a scholarly family. The old couple were very knowledgeable and polite.

They felt very uneasy living in the large compound. Once the house was built, Huo Shu and the others didn't keep them, helping them move instead.

"A little sorghum liquor, sharing some with each family to try."

When Huo Shu arrived, Deng Chenheng was chopping wood in the yard.

"Thank you. Brother Huo, stay and eat here before going back."

Deng Chenheng quickly put down the axe and took the liquor jar.

"Dinner is ready at home, I still have to go to the next house."

Huo Shu raised the jar in his hand slightly.

"Then you must come next time."

Deng Chenheng watched him leave the yard before carrying the liquor jar inside.

"I was just about to call you for dinner."

Old Master Deng saw the jar in his son's hand: "Where is this from?"

"From Sixth Uncle's family."

Deng Chenheng said as he walked into the house.

Old Master Deng frowned slightly. He looked at his son washing his hands and sighed softly: "Thanks to the care of Xin ger's maternal family, our family has food and shelter here."

He looked around: "The accommodation was built with their help. Food and supplies are sent from this family and that family. Everyone fled here as refugees, life isn't easy for any of them, yet they still look after our family so well."

"We only take from others, receiving their kindness, but haven't given anything back in return. It really makes me feel uneasy."

Deng Chenheng wiped his hands and said: "Father, you always overthink things."

"Xin ger's maternal lineage has always been united and harmonious. Their care is also given for the sake of Xin ger and his father's reputation."

Seeing his father still frowning with worry, Deng Chenheng smiled and said: "Alright, I know you just feel like we haven't contributed any effort and are afraid of taking from others for nothing."

"These days, I've heard people in the village talking about wanting to open paddy fields. I looked at the village's terrain, relying solely on individual strength to open fields is troublesome. I was thinking of helping everyone dig water channels and build waterwheels. That way, we won't be idle people anymore."

Old Master Deng was delighted to hear this: "Good, good, good. That's a very good idea. Originally, this was your line of work. Continuing to do it now is also putting your skills to good use."

Deng Chenheng nodded: "I'll go discuss it with Brother Huo this afternoon."

In the afternoon, after eating, Ji Taoyu felt sleepy from the food. The weather in the ninth lunar month was clear, cool, and pleasant—not cold nor hot. It was comfortable whether for a walk or a nap.

After Ji Taoyu fell asleep, Huo Shu went back to the fields.

The villagers were already busy. Opening paddy fields was much more troublesome than opening dry land. For wasteland, they had only needed to remove weed roots, clear away stones, and leave the soil ready.

But paddy fields required leveling the land and constructing irrigation ponds.

First, they covered the area with soil, planned the size of the fields, built raised ridges to hold water, compacted the base firmly, and then spread the topsoil back again.

After the fields were prepared, the crucial challenge was water. Paddy fields without water weren't much different from dry land.

But storing water was also difficult. When rainfall was plentiful, they could rely on nature to fill the fields. When rains were insufficient, they had to resort to the laborious method of carrying water from the river to the paddy fields.

There was only one river in the village. For land near the river that was to be turned into paddy fields, water access was much more convenient. However, in summer, farmland and vegetable plots near the river were easily flooded, which would ruin the harvest.

The most suitable paddy fields were actually those situated slightly farther from the river. But initially channeling water to these fields, and maintaining irrigation during summer droughts, remained somewhat troublesome.

"The village has many livestock. Using livestock to transport water later will be less labor-intensive than relying solely on human power."

Jiang Yuhou stood beside Huo Shu. The two were discussing the matter of opening paddy fields.

"Even using livestock, any method involving transporting water will still require some effort."

They turned around and saw Deng Chenheng walking towards them.

"If you trust me, you might consider handing over the task of opening the paddy fields to me."