"For this cassava, first you have to choose a plot of land... We don't fight over the good fields cleared by the river. Cassava isn't picky about land. Just find a slightly higher patch, with loose soil that feels sandy when you squeeze it... Hm? This bit of ground is pretty good, and the soil is fine too..."
The midsummer sun stood high in the sky. Even in the early morning, it still made people sweat all over. Not far away, the river flowed quietly, and the small pools formed by the rainy season shimmered with rippling light.
Old Militia Chiwako had tied on a headscarf for shade, leaned on a digging stick, and carried a grass basket full of cassava stalks on his back. As he searched for high ground, he kept probing into the soil with the stick. Behind him were three children with headscarves tied on and digging sticks over their shoulders: Chipawa, Dark Snake, and Didi. Divine Inspiration Priest Mekat followed along as well, having come to help.
"Mm... The soil is very loose, and the roots of these weeds are shallow too, easy to pull..."
The old Militia searched all the way until he reached a small patch of gentle slope, where one jab sank three inches into the earth. Then he crouched down, pulled out two weeds, and grabbed a handful of the sandy soil on the ground before saying in satisfaction.
"Here it is! Land for planting cassava has to be deep and thick and loose! Its roots go down deep, you know!... Come on, from here to here, forty paces square, dig out all the weeds by the roots!"
"Uh?... All right, Dad!"
Wasteland Warrior Chipawa looked utterly blank as he stared at the soil beneath his feet. He could not tell