Chapter 66: Wheat Sprouts
Xia Lu Nong carried a basket on his back and headed to his field.
Liao Cheng had been helping him take care of the field for the past few days, only handling the watering and fertilizing, but hadn’t had time to weed. Now, the field was overgrown, with the weeds reaching up to his thighs after just a few days.
Xia Lu Nong wore long pants, tied them at the legs, and donned work gloves. With a hoe in hand, he carefully made his way into the field, cautious of any surprises, like snakes.
Thankfully, the field was in good shape.
Carefully entering, he saw that the eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes were all full of fruit, especially the eggplants and tomatoes, which were bright red and looked like a bountiful harvest.
Liao Cheng had already picked the overripe ones, leaving just those perfectly ready for harvest.
Xia Lu Nong carefully picked the fruit, placing them in his basket and then returning for more.
After a couple of trips, his brother and Xi Nian, who had just returned from the hydroelectric station, couldn’t stand to watch anymore and came over with baskets to help.
Yan Xi Nian, amazed, said, “You didn’t plant much, and you haven’t taken care of it meticulously, so how is there such a harvest?”
Xia Lu Nong shrugged, “I don’t know either. It’s the tomato plants that are producing, not me.”
Yan Xi Nian asked, “Could it be because of your abilities?”
“Hard to say,” Xia Lu Nong replied, “but after we finish weeding, we’ll need to fertilize them again.”
Currently, Xia Lu Nong used chicken manure for his field, which, after fermentation, had quite a strong smell. He typically buried it deep for fertilization, which was quite a labor-intensive task.
If it weren’t for the help from his brother or Kong Zhi each time, just the thought of fertilizing would make his scalp tingle.
After bringing back all the vegetables and fruits they could pick, the three of them began weeding the field.
Xia Lu Nong usually sorted the weeds, leaving the old ones on the ridges and taking the tender ones to the base’s pond to feed the fish.
The base now had a three-acre pond, opened in the spring, stocked with a fair number of carp.
Although the fish were public property, everyone treated them with care. Many people would specifically bring tender grass to the pond after weeding to feed the fish.
The fish had only been raised for a few months, but whenever Xia Lu Nong saw them surface, they already looked quite fat.
It seemed like the base would be able to enjoy its first batch of fish this winter.
The eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers brought back would need to be made into chili paste, but Xia Lu Nong didn’t have time for that today, so he spread them out on the ground to dry, planning to deal with them in a few days when he had the time.
After returning from the field, Xia Lu Nong mainly focused on sorting through the wheat.
There were 23 pounds and 7 ounces of wheat, which filled more than half of a basket.
Xia Lu Nong took a bamboo sieve and sat under the eaves, carefully examining each seed, trying to distinguish between the mutated ones and the normal ones.
However, this task was incredibly difficult. After inspecting each seed one by one until his eyes were sore and bloodshot, he still couldn’t identify many of the mutated seeds.
His eyes became so strained that they teared up constantly, and he often rubbed them with the back of his hand.
Seeing this, his brother pulled him up. “If you really can’t tell them apart, just plant them all together.”
“Plant them now?” Xia Lu Nong asked. “The current climate doesn’t seem quite right.”
“You checked, didn’t you? As long as the temperature stays below 30 degrees Celsius, wheat can still grow. The temperature in the mountains is perfect for this, so we can plant it in the terraced fields.”
Xia Lu Nong was taken aback and looked at Kong Zhi. “Isn’t Kong Zhi planning to cultivate rice? He’s already ordered the rice seedlings and fish fry.”
Kong Zhi had already arranged for seeds to be cultivated specifically for his rice planting, and the advance payment had already been made, so there was no backing out now.
Xia Huo Qu hadn’t expected him to think of that. “Isn’t there other land at the base? We’ll just rent another acre.”
Xia Lu Nong coughed and scratched his head. “That works. It’ll be a good experiment.”
Xia Huo Qu looked over at Yan Xi Nian, “Can you ask about it tomorrow?”
Yan Xi Nian agreed, “Sure. The early rice at the base is about to be harvested, so it’s a good time to ask. Once we’ve prepared the wheat seeds, we can plant them in the terraced fields.”
Xia Lu Nong inquired, “Should we start preparing the seeds now, or would it be better to wait a few more days? I’ve noticed that the rice harvesting is still not complete.”
“It’s almost done. Let’s prepare the seeds now,” Yan Xi Nian said. “I’ll find a spot for seed preparation.”
Xia Lu Nong couldn’t refuse. The fields at the base were already allocated, and without Yan Xi Nian’s help, he wouldn’t be able to find space for his crops.
After thinking it over, Xia Lu Nong added, “If possible, see if there’s any other land available. Rice fields are too wet, and the topsoil might not have drained properly by the time we plant the wheat, which wouldn’t be good for it.”
Wheat doesn’t do well in waterlogged conditions, so rice fields weren’t ideal.
Of course, if there was no other option, they could make do with the rice fields, but it wouldn’t be optimal.
“Got it.” Yan Xi Nian thought for a moment. “Some of the terraced fields are planted with sweet potatoes. I’ll check if we can harvest those early to free up some land for the wheat.”
Xia Lu Nong nodded enthusiastically.
For wheat, land that had previously grown sweet potatoes was better than land that had grown rice. Ideally, though, land that had been used for soybeans would be best. Despite this, the majority of individuals at the base prefer not to utilize valuable land for soybeans, opting instead to plant them along the ridges.
Xia Lu Nong felt the same, only growing soybeans on the ridges for his family’s consumption.
The next day, Yan Xi Nian brought back some good news: they could rent one acre of the sweet potato field at the base. However, since it was being rented mid-season, the rent was higher—300 pounds of grain or 240 pounds of rice for the lease until February next year.
Xia Lu Nong was a bit disheartened by how much grain it would cost to rent just one acre. “Why so much grain? It wasn’t this expensive when renting fields at the beginning of the year.”
Yan Xi Nian chuckled, “Well, it’s because we need it urgently. So, what do you think? Do you want to go ahead?”
Xia Huo Qu said, “Paying a bit more grain is actually a good thing—it’ll prevent any gossip later on about us taking advantage of the base.”
Xia Lu Nong thought about it and agreed. “Alright, Xi Nian, you guys handle the grain payment. If there are no issues, let’s sign a rental agreement.”
“Sure thing,” Yan Xi Nian replied, then brought up another matter. “Once we secure the field, should we hire a beastman who can transform into a bull to plow the field? Tilling by hand is too exhausting.”
In the current heat, working under the sun for an entire day would leave white streaks of sweat on their clothes. Now that they had more supplies, there was no need to be too hard on themselves. Hiring a beastman would cost more food, but they could afford it.
“That’s fine,” Xia Lu Nong agreed, then added, “Should I also hire help for making the chili paste? I noticed there are quite a few women at the base who are quick and skilled. We could hire them for a couple of days to save us from back-breaking labor.”
Yan Xi Nian laughed, “If you think it’s a good idea, go ahead. We have more resources now, so we can afford to make things a bit easier.”
Xia Lu Nong, happy with the plan, said, “I’ll talk to Old Liu and ask him to recommend a few people.”
There were indeed women at the base, many of whom, like the men, either worked in the fields or went out hunting. Many of them were capable of supporting their households independently. However, because beastmen couldn’t wear clothes in their animal forms, it was a bit awkward for men and women to work together, so they usually formed separate teams.
When Xia Lu Nong spoke to Old Liu, he recommended a few people and even helped arrange things.
Two women came to assist Xia Lu Nong, both in their fifties: Liu Chang Min and Wang Zhen. They were quick with their hands and didn’t talk much.
Xia Lu Nong agreed to pay them five pounds of rice per day, plus a meal at noon, to help with making the tomato chili paste.
They quickly got the hang of it.
Liu Chang Min joked, “Xiao Nong, ever since you started making this tomato chili paste, it’s become popular all over the base. But no one makes it as well as you do.”
Xia Lu Nong asked curiously, “Why is that? It’s not a complicated recipe.”
“Who knows?” Liu Chang Min laughed. “Maybe your tomatoes and peppers are just better, or maybe your bread oven is special. Either way, no one else can match it. I bet when you make this batch, people will come asking to trade with you again.”
With Liu Chang Min and Wang Zhen helping out, Xia Lu Nong felt a lot of the pressure lift. He had more time and energy to focus on the terraced fields in the mountains.
His brother had arranged for a bull-beastman to help plow the field. The land, having previously grown sweet potatoes, was dry and ideal for wheat. After plowing, they broke up the soil and spread ash fertilizer to prepare for sowing the wheat seeds.
Plowing was exhausting work, so Xia Huo Qu suggested that they plow Kong Zhi’s field at the same time since they had already hired the bull-beastman.
Kong Zhi agreed, relieved to have some of his burden lightened. He had been busy in the rice paddies, digging deep trenches to raise fish—a physically demanding task. After just a few days, he returned covered in mud, with his neck tanned from the sun, which made Xia Lu Nong burst into laughter.
Kong Zhi, with his sharp and handsome features, now had a tan line on his neck, which Xia Lu Nong found hilarious. Though there was no malice in his laughter, Kong Zhi sighed in resignation, saying nothing.
Xia Huo Qu, annoyed, grabbed Xia Lu Nong’s slender neck. “Stop laughing at him, you’re not much better! Look at your neck, it’s peeling. Haven’t you noticed?”
Xia Lu Nong couldn’t tan; instead, his skin peeled under the sun. He touched his neck and felt a web of dead skin, which grossed him out.
Since he started peeling, he had been extra careful to protect himself, always wearing long sleeves and a straw hat. But no matter how much he tried, the strong sunlight still got to him.
Touching his neck again, Xia Lu Nong sighed in frustration. “Farming is so hard! If it’s not one problem, it’s another. It’s all just a series of pitfalls.”
Yan Xi Nian laughed, “Nothing is easy. But you’re doing alright. I saw the wheat earlier—it looks like some of the sprouts have started to come up.”
“Yeah, they’ve sprouted a bit,” Xia Lu Nong said, sitting up straight. “It should be more noticeable by tomorrow.”
To nurture the seedlings, Xia Lu Nong watered them with a spray bottle morning and evening, just enough to moisten the soil without overwatering. He kept a close eye on the wheat every day and knew the state of the seedlings well.
Yan Xi Nian asked, “Is it just me, or do the seedlings seem sturdier than usual?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never grown wheat before,” Xia Lu Nong admitted. “But they do seem to be growing well. The germination rate is at least 95%.”
Kong Zhi, who had been quiet, chimed in, “They’re definitely sturdier—much thicker than usual wheat seedlings.”
At his words, all three turned to look at him.
Kong Zhi remained calm. “I’ve grown wheat seedlings before as cat grass.”
Xia Lu Nong suddenly remembered, “Oh right, you mentioned that before. You used to have a cat.”
Yan Xi Nian inquired, “Apart from being heartier, have you observed any other peculiarities? Xiaonong, you previously mentioned sensing something unique about this batch of wheat. Do you still feel that way?”
Xia Lu Nong nodded. “Yes, I can still feel it. But apart from growing exceptionally well, there’s nothing else unusual. Or maybe I just haven’t noticed?”
Yan Xi Nian said, “I’ve been reading the wheat planting guide these past few days, and I haven’t noticed anything unusual either.”
Xia Lu Nong and Yan Xi Nian discussed the matter but couldn’t figure it out. They decided they’d have to observe the wheat seedlings for a while longer to understand what was happening.
Xia Huo Qu and Kong Zhi didn’t join the conversation. They simply cleaned up the table and prepared for dinner.
The next morning, Xia Lu Nong headed to the wheat field with his basket.
He noticed that the wheat had grown another finger’s width taller since the previous day, visible from a distance.
What surprised him the most was that some of the wheat plants had started to show a distinct difference. Some of the wheat was much sturdier than expected, with leaves that were thicker and more tender than the others. They reminded him of bean sprouts, and when he pinched them lightly, moisture came out.
Xia Lu Nong even wondered if these wheat seedlings could be harvested and stir-fried like vegetables.
He leaned down to inhale their scent, discovering a fresh and indescribable aroma that captivated his senses.
These unusual wheat plants stood out among the ordinary ones, making up about one-fifth of the field.
Closing his eyes to concentrate, Xia Lu Nong realized that the strange sensation he had felt earlier came from these mutated wheat plants.
Utilizing his ability to perceive them, he noticed that these plants exhibited a level of vitality far greater than that of typical wheat or even common flora.
He could even pick up subtle signals from the plants—like a sense of hunger.
It wasn’t a specific word but rather a feeling, similar to how people can tell a plant needs water when its leaves droop. When Xia Lu Nong connected with the mutated wheat using his ability, he could sense their needs in his mind.
The experience was strange and fascinating.
After observing for a while, he returned home and told his brothers about the discovery.
Xia Huo Qu inquired, “Have your abilities improved, or have these wheat plants become more self-aware?”
Xia Lu Nong thought for a moment and said, “I don’t think my ability has changed. When I use it on normal wheat, it feels the same as before, no different.”
“I think the wheat has mutated. It’s like how some mutated plants can move. These plants seem to have more animal-like traits.”
The three of them were a bit perplexed.
Xia Lu Nong tried to explain, using gestures to help. “I’m not suggesting they’ve become more intelligent; rather, they’ve simply become more adept at articulating their needs.”
Yan Xi Nian patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. What we do know is that these wheat plants have mutated. We’ll keep an eye on them and see what happens next.”
Xia Lu Nong nodded.
Xia Huo Qu added, “This afternoon, we’ll go with you to check if these wheat plants are dangerous.”
“Huh?” Xia Lu Nong responded. “There’s no need for that. I don’t think they’re dangerous. Besides, aren’t you both busy with the hydropower station?”
The hydropower station had been completed, and the generators had been installed. The base was currently setting up power lines and poles, installing lights and meters in each household. Once everything was in place, they’d officially start generating electricity.
A small lake had also been built above the station to store water. Every day, the base sent people to patrol the lake to ensure no mutated animals or plants appeared there that could endanger the base.
Xia Lu Nong felt that his brothers were already quite busy, so he hadn’t bothered them with the situation in the field.
Xia Huo Qu said, “We’ll just return a little early. The hydropower station can wait for a while.”
Yan Xi Nian agreed. “Anything involving mutated plants should be handled with extra caution.”
Seeing how determined they were, Xia Lu Nong nodded. “Alright, I was planning to ask Kong Zhi to come with me anyway.”
Yan Xi Nian said, “Kong Zhi can come too. We’ll all go and see if we can discover anything.”
That evening, the four of them went to the wheat field.
Xia Lu Nong was so familiar with the field that he could picture it in his mind even before they arrived. But when they got there, he was shocked—the field looked completely different from what he had expected.
The spot where he had sown the seeds was now overgrown with something—possibly weeds, but the thick green growth was alarmingly high, standing out from the other seedlings.
Xia Lu Nong felt a chill. He had only been away for half a day, and the wheat field had already turned into a mess.
“How did these weeds grow so fast?” he asked, confused.
Xia Huo Qu’s expression darkened. “They’re not weeds.”
“Huh? What do you mean? Wheat doesn’t grow like this, does it?”
Xia Lu Nong’s eyesight wasn’t as sharp as his brother’s, but he could clearly see that the tall “weeds” stuck out in the field, like a monk with random tufts of hair sticking up. It was obvious at first glance.
After a moment, Xia Lu Nong realized. “Wait, are these mutated wheat plants?”
Plants could mutate in many different ways. Weeds, for example, could turn into vines, trees, or even grow limbs. There were countless possibilities.
Xia Lu Nong hadn’t immediately connected the growth to mutation because there were so many of these strange plants in the field.
Mutations were rare, so he hadn’t expected such a large-scale mutation in his seedbed.
They quickly reached the middle of the field.
The truth was now undeniable.
Xia Lu Nong looked at the wheat plants in disbelief. “These are really wheat plants? How did they change so fast? Just this morning, the mutations weren’t even obvious!”
With a serious expression, Yan Xi Nian stated, “It’s possible that the mutation traits of this wheat batch are such that they remain inconspicuous during germination, only to undergo swift transformations later on.”
Xia Lu Nong nodded in confusion.
Yan Xi Nian inquired, “Lu Nong, could you try sensing again? Do you still believe there’s something worthwhile?”
Xia Lu Nong closed his eyes and focused for a moment before nodding. “I think they are.”
“Then they must be good!” Yan Xi Nian said decisively. “Let’s transplant them and observe closely—see how big they grow, how much wheat they produce, and how long their growth cycle is.”
Xia Lu Nong glanced at the field, which hadn’t been prepared yet, and hesitantly asked, “Now?”
“Now,” Yan Xi Nian smiled. “We’ll all pitch in and finish before it gets dark.”
Wiping the sweat from his palms on his pants, Xia Lu Nong admitted, “I’ve never planted wheat before. I’m not sure how to do it.”
Yan Xi Nian responded, “Did you not read the book?”
“Books are one thing,” Xia Lu Nong said, rubbing his hands again. “In theory, everything appears straightforward. However, if these are genuinely mutated plants, what happens if we plant them incorrectly and cause unforeseen problems?”
The three others didn’t expect him to say that and turned to look at him.
Xia Lu Nong added, “Aren’t there scientists in the White Building? I recall there being an agronomist among them. Should we seek their advice?”
Yan Xi Nian paused, then said, “If we bring in scientists from the White Building, any success will no longer be your independent achievement.”
Xia Lu Nong thought for a moment. The idea of handing over such a significant discovery wasn’t without some inner resistance, but he understood the bigger picture.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Forget it. If this wheat turns out to be something remarkable, maybe the whole base won’t have to rely on sweet potatoes anymore.”
He couldn’t forget those early days after awakening, eating sweet potatoes every day until it made him nauseous. Sweet potatoes weren’t suitable as a staple food long-term, and everyone was sick of them. If they could grow high-yield wheat, anything from noodles to bread would be better than eating sweet potatoes.
Xia Lu Nong tried to convince himself, though he couldn’t hide the disappointment in his expression.
Seeing this, Yan Xi Nian chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Growing the wheat and keeping the mutated wheat to ourselves aren’t mutually exclusive. If we need an expert, we’ll hire one privately.”
Xia Lu Nong, after preparing himself mentally for so long, looked back, surprised. “We can do that?”
“Of course,” Yan Xi Nian said. “Wait here. I’ll go down the mountain and personally bring back an agricultural expert.”
Xia Lu Nong rubbed his nose quietly and glanced at his brother and Kong Zhi, his eyes showing a hint of frustration. They hadn’t warned him about this earlier, making him mentally prepare for nothing.
After Yan Xi Nian finished speaking, he walked down the mountain to fetch the expert. The sky was growing darker.
As he walked, he casually stripped off his shirt and pants, rolled them into a bundle, and transformed into a massive tiger, carrying his clothes in his mouth as he sprinted downhill.
With a few leaps, the huge white tiger disappeared from sight in just a few moments.
Xia Lu Nong craned his neck to watch and silently muttered, “He acted so calm, but he was in such a hurry he couldn’t even stand walking.”
With that thought, he turned to glance at Kong Zhi. If they really wanted speed, having Kong Zhi transform into a golden eagle and fly down would be faster. He could even grab the agronomist and bring them up, though it might scare the expert.
The three waited for a while.
Xia Huo Qu said, “Since we’re waiting, we might as well start transplanting these mutated wheat seedlings.”
“Oh.” Xia Lu Nong squatted down and gently touched the mutated wheat seedlings. Seeing that they didn’t have thorns or bite, he relaxed a little and began pulling one up.
To his surprise, the seedling didn’t budge, and the thick, tender-looking stems and leaves didn’t break either.
He paused, then tried digging into the soil.
Soon, he discovered that these wheat seedlings, which only reached his knees, had roots extending more than half a meter deep into the soil!
So that’s it—the seedlings hadn’t shown any abnormalities above ground because the real changes were happening below!
