The news that the land would be divided soon reached every household through the village representatives. Some people were still doubtful, but most, once their excitement settled, had already begun preparing to farm their own land.
Grain yields were not high at the time. Wheat yielded only a little over a hundred kilograms, oilseed sunflowers less than a hundred. Corn yielded more, but honestly, nobody wanted corn as their staple food in those days. Since the irrigation facilities were fairly well developed, the team also grew rice. There was not much of it, but once the harvested paddy was milled, the rice smelled wonderfully fragrant when cooked-even without any dishes to go with it, a person could eat two big bowls.
Li Long had never eaten rice that fragrant again in his later life. Not even the selenium-rich rice or Wuchang rice of later years had ever tasted like the rice of this era.
He remembered that in his previous life, the team's elderly people would often say in their spare time that the rice their team grew had been the best. Unfortunately, growing rice was too much trouble, so they had stopped.
The team also grew flax, scattered patches of safflower, and other crops.
Li Jianguo also told Li Long some fresh news announced by the team:
"There's been a notice from above. They're encouraging everyone to take up more sideline work now. Raising pigs, sheep, or chickens is all fine. The team leader also said that anyone who raises livestock on a large enough scale will get support and rewards from the team. For pig farming, for instance, they'll set aside land specifically for growing feed."
"Then let's raise pigs," Li Long said with a smile. "You two could finish farming the land the team gives us without