Chapter 98: Only Two Families Followed Suit

At last, it was Lady Luo who could no longer bear their endless dithering and made the final decision. Since the ridge plow had been something the eldest had come up with, then they would follow the eldest’s lead and try composting the way he had taught them. Whether it would work or not, they had to try.

Wen Xiuyi was deeply moved to see his mother-in-law backing him, but his satisfaction was rewarded only with a glare from Lady Luo.

When the villagers of Old Catalpa Village looked over, all they saw was this: after the Wen family had finished turning the soil, Old Man Wen spent his days leading Big Yellow from house to house to lend a hand, while the rest of the family busied themselves in the fields, digging pits here and there, gathering dead branches and fallen leaves, as if they were up to some mysterious business.

Because of the ridge plow incident, the people of Old Catalpa Village now regarded anything the Wens did with a measure of curiosity. They could not help but want to go and see for themselves, wondering if this, too, might be something beneficial. Perhaps, like the ridge plow, they might gain some advantage from it.

Yet after watching for two or three days, all they saw was digging pits and burying things in them. Nothing else.

Someone grew bold enough to ask what they were doing. Since the Wen family had already been persuaded by Wen Xiuyi, they had no wish to keep things hidden; in fact, concealing such matters would only be counterproductive. A tall tree catches the wind. Better to be open and aboveboard and earn others’ respect.

But when they explained, not everyone, but the vast majority, did not believe it.

Everyone here had farmed for generations. No one had ever heard of using dead branches and fallen leaves to make fertilizer. The usual practice was wood ash mixed with manure.

Even so, there were still a few who were half convinced, among them the family of Iron Ox, who often came to play with Wen Ying and Big Head, and another boy named Mouse Head.

The Iron Ox family did not own much land in the village. After paying the grain tax each year, they could barely feed the household for half a year; for the rest, Iron Ox’s father and his brothers had to go out and find odd jobs to earn money.

The two families’ children got along well, and so did the adults. The Wen family had even hired Iron Ox’s father and his brothers to help build the house.

So when it came to improving crop yields, Iron Ox’s father came to the Wen family for advice at once. If it really worked, then they would never again fear running short of grain.

Mouse Head’s family was in much the same situation, though in truth they were even worse off than the Iron Ox family.

Wen Xiuyi did not keep anything to himself. He simply explained the key points and the principles of composting in words they could understand, then added, “In any case, that’s the method. If you trust me, then come along and do it with our family. Whether it succeeds or not, we’ll see the results next year.

But I can’t make any promises. You’ll have to judge for yourselves.”

After all, these were not his closest kin. Wen Xiuyi could not guarantee anything for them. Good or bad, it was better to make everything clear in advance.

The two families were astonished by how much Wen Xiuyi had changed and by how much he seemed to know. After hearing him out, they said they would go home and discuss it with their families.

Wen Xiuyi was not anxious. He only advised them, “If you’re going to make compost, better start early. Spring plowing is only a month or two away, and composting takes time.”

“All right, then we’ll go back and talk it over with the family now.” After saying this, Iron Ox’s father and Mouse Head’s father left together, their heads close as they muttered to each other on the way, apparently discussing how best to handle it.

The next day, there was still no movement from either household, and Wen Xiuyi said nothing more, only shook his head with a helpless sigh.

On the third day, the Iron Ox family began digging pits in their fields.

On the fourth day, Mouse Head’s family followed suit.

When people saw it, they said the two families were foolish. They already had so little land to begin with; to follow along with such nonsense was no different from cutting off their own food supply.

What those people did not know was how much risk the two families had taken in making that decision.

When Iron Ox’s father returned home that day and told the family about it, the adults, who had originally fallen silent, heard Iron Ox say, “Big Head and Yingzi told me in secret that Uncle Wen made a promise to Grandmother Wen and Grandfather Wen at home. He said this fertilizer would definitely enrich the soil and increase grain yields.

Oh, and Big Head also told me that Uncle Wen seems to have some other method for increasing grain production, or something like that. He overheard it when he was talking to Sister Yao Yao and Brother Xiao Jun.

Big Head only told me because I’m close with him.”

That single speech from Iron Ox sent the whole family back into silence. At last, his grandfather coughed and said, “How about we follow the Wen family and do as they do? At the very least, it can’t be worse than this.”

Yes, at the very least, it could not be worse than now. Better to try than not to try at all.

Mouse Head’s family came to the same conclusion, though not because of Mouse Head’s persuasion. Rather, it was because Mouse Head’s grandmother and Lady Luo were old friends. In any case, the situation could not get any worse than it already was. Their family had more mouths to feed than the Iron Ox family, yet less land, so things were even harder for them.

These days, if the household had not raised a few hens laying eggs, and if Lady Luo had not always chosen their eggs first and used their radishes and cabbages for pickles, life would not have improved at all.

Since the two families supported his work so much, Wen Xiuyi naturally had to do his part. He made a special trip to stroll around their fields several times, and after checking the conditions, he carefully explained how they should make the compost and what materials they would need.

Different soils required different kinds of fertilizer. If the wrong fertilizer was applied, the result could be the opposite of what was intended.

Just like that, with only seven days left until the New Year, the Wen family’s new house had also begun to take shape. Though the walls were still not very high, the outline of the house could already be seen. If the brick kilns had not announced they would halt work for the holiday, the house would have been built right up to New Year’s Eve.

On the last day, Lady Luo paid the wages for the laborers and the foreman, wanting everyone to have a good New Year.

Wen Yao also finished her last job of the year and received a red envelope of two hundred coins. She would not be taking any more work this year.

The final few days were spent preparing for the New Year at home.

Though the family had split up, Wen Xiuyi’s house was still under construction, so they would all be celebrating the New Year at the old family home.

During this period, Big Yellow had been exhausted, and Old Man Wen felt so sorry for him that he nearly went to the back yard stable three times a day just to check on him.

As Lady Luo put it, he was practically ready to tie Big Yellow to his waistband and carry him around all day.

Annoyed by how much Old Man Wen doted on Big Yellow, Lady Luo simply had to find something for the animal to do.

That evening after supper, Lady Luo suddenly announced that the whole family would go into the city the next day.

The younger generation cheered in delight, and even the three brothers were pleased. After all these busy days, they could finally get some rest.

Wen Nong cautiously raised his hand. “Grandma, should I still set up my stall tomorrow?” During this period, aside from giving Wen Yao startup money, Wen Nong had also saved up some cash of his own. Though Li had confiscated it all, it was money, wasn’t it? Since they were going into the city, he did not believe his mother would refuse to let him spend it.