By evening.
Qin Lin was sitting at the computer behind the bar, finishing up the proposal for the support fund, when Chen Dabe came running in, his head covered in sweat. "Boss, I've turned over the paddy field you asked me to prepare, and it's been fertilized too!"
Lin Fen asked in confusion, "Xiao Lin, why did you turn over the field?"
"I want to grow some rice seedlings." Qin Lin smiled and explained, then pulled the Xiangshui Tribute Rice seeds he'd brought out of the game, along with a book titled A Detailed Guide to Growing Rice Seedlings, from beneath the bar.
The seeds had already been soaked and disinfected. After all, this wasn't a game; in real life, rice seeds had to be disinfected before planting.
Lin Fen was both amused and exasperated. "You silly boy, what month is it already? You're still trying to grow rice seedlings? Your generation has never worked in the fields. You don't even know the basics."
"Mom, I know. In the south, rice is divided by planting time into early-, middle-, and late-season rice. Early-season rice is cultivated in March and April, usually around Qingming. Middle-season rice is cultivated in April and May. Late-season rice is cultivated in mid-to-late June." Qin Lin smiled. He hadn't been holding that book for nothing. Then he added, "These rice seeds are a special variety. They can be planted even in winter."
Like the Quality 2 watermelons, the Xiangshui Tribute Rice seeds weren't restricted by the seasons. That was an astonishing property in itself.
"??" Lin Fen was clearly stunned. "There's rice that can be planted in winter?"
Born a farmer, she was at a loss. She'd never heard of such a thing before.
Qin Lin smiled. "Mom, there's nothing strange about growing rice in winter.