Staple Grain Diversification and the Vegetable Basket Plan (5/5)
"That guy really doesn't know anything?"
When Li Boyang returned to the village, he was still recalling the shocked and bewildered expression on that face.
They had no idea that their bodies had been transformed into a "Living Talisman Incantation."
All he knew was that when he was chosen as "Sikou," the high priests bestowed upon him certain abilities through some kind of Witchcraft Incantation.
During the casting of the Witchcraft Incantation, he was in a semi-conscious state the entire time.
When he regained consciousness, he possessed the Body of a Hundred Battles he has now, capable of facing any mountain monster or spirit without being at a disadvantage.
"Little brother?"
Just then, Li Jingshu's voice woke Li Boyang from his reverie.
When Li Boyang turned his gaze to her, Li Jingshu was standing obediently at the village entrance.
Beside Li Jingshu, Xiao'e was having a quiet conversation with a middle-aged man whom Li Boyang did not recognize.
The moment the middle-aged man saw Li Boyang, his eyes lit up, and he stared at him intently with an excited yet suppressed expression.
"Big Girl? Xiao'e?"
Li Boyang's questioning gaze shifted between Li Jingshu and Xiao'e before finally settling on the middle-aged man.
Li Boyang and Xiao'e weren't actually very close.
But he knew that the other party was the shaman of Gao Village Town, the successor personally chosen by the Spring God Nüman.
Every spring, Xiao'e would bring people from other villages to Li Household Village to exchange for improved seeds.
In a sense, Li Boyang's current prestige within a radius of hundreds of miles is largely due to Xiao'e's proactive promotion.
After all, the ordinary Mountain Folk had no idea that the Red-Haired Ghost God Udumbara Flower three years ago was Li Boyang.
"Uncle Lu's village was attacked by a mountain monster, so I brought him to the village to borrow seeds."
Walking slowly to Li Boyang, Xiao'e explained in a gentle and skillful voice.
Upon seeing this, both Li Jingshu and Uncle Lu showed a strange expression.
Uncle Lu, in particular, blinked in surprise for a moment, then almost couldn't suppress a smile.
"I see?"
They didn't notice Xiao'e's unusual behavior.
After a brief moment of thought, Li Boyang had a detailed picture of the villages, large and small, within a radius of a hundred miles.
"A village with the surname Lu, are you the village head of Mountain Hollow Village?"
Completely unprepared for Li Boyang's revelation of his identity, Uncle Lu immediately chimed in.
"You're right, I am the village chief of Mountain Hollow Village."
"Our village had no other choice this time, which is why we had the shaman bring me here to bother you."
Unlike Li Boyang's habitual way of speaking, Uncle Lu genuinely respected him, and even dared not look him directly in the eye when speaking.
Of course, Li Boyang's height and appearance made the dialogue somewhat comical.
However, apart from Uncle Lu, everyone present was a teenager.
No one seemed to care about this inequality in identity, appearance, and status.
"Did you borrow rice seeds this time?"
Li Boyang rolled his eyes slightly and asked a question full of meaning.
"Yes, I know this might affect your upcoming planting plans, but we really have no other choice."
Each village makes a conscious effort to leave enough seeds for the next planting season during the harvest.
Such sudden seed borrowing, whether the parties involved admit it or not, will inevitably affect future farming plans.
However, that's not what Li Boyang is concerned about right now.
"I know your Mountain Hollow Village; the soil there is very fertile, but the sunshine isn't plentiful."
"Most importantly, rice cultivation consumes a huge amount of water, and there just happens to be no decent water sources near your village!"
Li Boyang wasn't consulting with Uncle Lu; he was quite certain about the situation in Shanjun Village.
Because Li Boyang had already thoroughly investigated the Earth Veins and water vein conditions of the surrounding villages when he built the "Mountain God Reservoir".
"You're right, so we'll just have to work harder and get water from other places."
He smiled wryly, confirming Li Boyang's statement.
Uncle Lu thought the other party was worried that his village wouldn't be able to repay the seed debt next year.
"No, what I mean is—why don't you want to try a better breed?"
"For example, a type of buckwheat with a shorter growth cycle?"
"I have a relatively high-quality buckwheat variety here. Although its yield is not as high as that of rice, it can reach about 60% of the yield."
"Even if your village grows rice, it can only achieve a maximum of 80% of the normal yield per mu."
"Given your current situation, buckwheat, which has a shorter growth cycle and is also drought- and cold-resistant, would actually be more suitable."
The reason Li Boyang mentioned buckwheat was not because he didn't want to promote the more high-yield potatoes and corn.
The problem is that he hasn't yet found suitable potato and corn varieties for domestication.
In contrast, the short-cycle drought-resistant buckwheat that was unexpectedly cultivated two years ago is indeed quite suitable for the actual situation of the Mountain Hollow Village.
"This."
Uncle Lu glanced at Li Boyang, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, clearly bewildered.
However dazzling Li Boyang's aura may be, such a major decision that determines the future development of a village cannot be made all at once.
"Little brother, you've fallen back into your old habits again!"
Before Uncle Lu could figure out how to answer Li Boyang, Li Jingshu interrupted their conversation with a smile.
The village has agreed to your previous plan to diversify staple foods.
"The old man plans to have the Production Brigade reclaim another piece of wasteland next year, specifically to test the staple crops you've developed."
Hearing Li Jingshu say that, Li Boyang was now feeling quite annoyed.
Staple foods are different from side dishes like vegetables and fruits; they are a major decision directly related to the livelihoods of Mountain Folk.
Prior to this, the villagers, including the old village chief, had only agreed to plant some sideline crops on a small scale or during fallow periods.
Even Li Boyang himself didn't expect that the staple foods bred by the Big Black Dog could be fully promoted within Li Household Village.
Of course, from the current perspective, such a multi-staple food farming plan is actually unnecessary.
Unless one day a disease or pest specifically targeting rice emerges.
Otherwise, all of Li Boyang's current suggestions can only be described as needless worry.
"Really? When did the old village chief become so understanding?"
As was her habit, Li Jingshu walked over to Li Boyang's side and explained with great interest,
"Isn't it because of that 'grocery basket plan' you came up with before? It made everyone think that it's nice to change things up once in a while."
"Besides, the elders in the village aren't fools; they know those unruly kids better than we do."
"Compared to when they were children, those mischievous kids are much stronger and less prone to illness---"
"All of this is because the series of plans you spearheaded have worked."
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