Chapter 87 (continued)

As a legume green manure, milkvetch can fix nitrogen from the air and activate phosphorus in the soil.

This thing is quite resilient, almost like a weed, and has very low planting costs. After sowing the seeds, it basically doesn't need watering or fertilizing.

Once mature, it can be used as fodder and a source of nectar, making it a low-input, high-output green manure.

If they actually grow them, they can harvest some to feed shrimp, geese, hazel grouse, etc., which would be making the best use of them.

Zhao Hexi thought for a moment and said, "Then let's do as you say and plant the milkvetch first. We'll buy other fertilizers to condition the soil once the contract period officially begins."

Qing Mengzhu: "That's what I was thinking too, no need to rush. We'll add some more microbial inoculants to the soil later to adjust it to a more suitable condition for cultivation, and that should be about right."

Zhao Hexi scratched his head. "Which bacteria should we supplement?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Perhaps it's to replenish the pre-mixed microbial population. I'll ask Gu Benshu and have him purchase and mix it later."

Gu Benshu and his team are handling the matter of the Insect-Killing Bacillus. They have already registered the materials with the provincial authorities and are awaiting their approval.

The fact that this step was taken so quickly is thanks to the relatively simplified procedures now; otherwise, they would still be busy preparing various technical documents.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hexi sighed, "We still don't have enough manpower. If we had more, things would be much easier."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's not a matter of how many people we have, it's that our ambitions are too great. If it were a typical agricultural company, we wouldn't need to be so busy with this and that; just getting by would be enough."

Zhao Hexi: "That's true. Our positioning is different, so let's maintain high standards and strict requirements."

Qing Mengzhu suggested, "If you're too busy, why not hire a couple more assistants? Our business is doing alright; hiring a few more people won't be too much."

Their white fungus and lotus seed soup and dried bamboo shoots sell very well, making them a fortune. Now, if they need to hire people, they have the money to do so.

Zhao Hexi disagreed. "No need. We just said that we haven't even received the land yet, it's not time to officially start working, so there's no need to hire anyone. Besides, we're just an agent for dried bamboo shoots, we don't earn much."

The dried bamboo shoots were Qing Mengzhu's personal business. He hired people from the company to help dig, dry, and sell the bamboo shoots, but the majority of the income came from him and did not go into the company's accounts.

Zhao Hexi emphasized, "We're only making hard-earned money lately, and we're still managing. Let's not expand blindly."

Qing Mengzhu's company, as a small startup, has a very flat structure.

The two leaders are Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi, with Zhao Hexi taking on most of the work and doing everything. Anyone who needs something can just contact him privately.

He felt he could manage it and didn't need to hire anyone else, and Qing Mengzhu had no objections.

After inspecting the fields, Qing Mengzhu strolled home.

Before I even got home, I saw someone sitting at my door from a great distance.

Qing Mengzhu quickly stepped forward. "Sixteenth Grandpa, what brings you here?"

Qing Guozhi the old man, "I've brought you some Polygonatum. I recently acquired some good quality Polygonatum, which is good for nourishing the kidneys and replenishing essence. It's autumn and winter, so you should take some."

Upon hearing the key phrase, Qing Mengzhu felt a pang of embarrassment. "We're still young, we don't really need any tonics."

The old man didn't notice anything unusual about him and casually said, "Young people need to nourish themselves more; when you get old, you can't take it anymore."

Qing Mengzhu quickly changed the subject. "How should one eat Polygonatum?"

The old man said, "Steamed chicken, steamed pork ribs, or soup are all fine. It's all about food therapy; there aren't too many rules."

The old man specially delivered some Solomon's Seal to them. After delivering it, he said a few words and then went back, saying he was going to his son's house for dinner that evening.

Qing Mengzhu didn't want to keep him, so she quickly prepared bamboo shoots and vegetables as a return gift.

Ming Chunxi has a meeting today and will be back late. Qing Mengzhu, please start cooking dinner first.

There happened to be some marinated pork ribs in the fridge today, so he simply chopped some polygonatum and mixed it in, then steamed the ribs to eat.

When Ming Chunxi returned, she smelled a sweet medicinal aroma in the courtyard and asked, "Did you make soup?"

Qing Mengzhu poked her head out from the kitchen. "No, it's steamed pork ribs with Solomon's seal. Sixteenth Grandpa gave it to us, saying it's for nourishing our kidneys and replenishing our essence."

Ming Chunxi said the same thing, "We don't need to make up for it."

Qing Mengzhu: "Since the old man has already sent it, I'll just steam it while I'm at it. I'll see if it tastes good later; if it doesn't, then forget about it."

They had already set aside enough for the two dogs when they steamed the ribs.

Now that the ribs are steamed, Qing Mengzhu took some out, rinsed them in boiling water, and then mixed them with rice for the two dogs along with other vegetables.

The two dogs weren't picky at all, and they happily ate the steamed pork ribs with Solomon's seal.

Qing Mengzhu turned to see the two dogs crunching on their ribs and said, "These two are really easy to feed."

The Dharma Protector lifted its head from the food bowl and responded, "Woof!"

Qing Mengzhu: "Eat your food, you don't need to talk to me."

Dharma Protector: "Woof woof!"

Steamed pork ribs with Solomon's seal have a medicinal flavor and a slightly sweet taste, but they're not unpleasant. This is probably because the pork ribs themselves are very delicious. Even with the medicinal flavor, it just makes the taste a little different; the ribs are still very tasty.

After dinner, the two sat side by side at their desks and started working.

Qing Mengzhu was busy until after 9 p. m. before she finally put away the "soil conditioning plan" and prepared to wash up and go to bed.

Ming Chunxi also turned off her computer and went with him.

While taking a bath, Qing Mengzhu glanced at the energetic Ming Chunxi, "Solomon's seal does have some effect, huh?"

Ming Chunxi put her arm around him and kissed his shoulder. "Mmm."

The useful Solomon's Seal failed to nourish their kidneys and replenish their essence; instead, it depleted their vital energy.

The next day, Qing Mengzhu quietly made another soup with Solomon's Seal and lean pork.

You should still take supplements if needed; young people shouldn't be stubborn.

They always cook human food and dog food together, at most serving the dogs' food first before adding seasonings when cooking the dishes.

In any case, most dishes are only added to soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, etc., when they are almost cooked, so they don't interfere with each other when cooked in one pot.

After making the Solomon's Seal and Lean Pork Soup, Qing Mengzhu didn't give any to the dog.

It's supposed to be nutritious food for humans, but it's not good for dogs to eat too much of it.

The Dharma Protector and Guard have a keen sense of smell; they could smell the aroma of the Solomon's Seal and lean pork soup, but Qing Mengzhu didn't give it to them, which puzzled them.

They stood in front of Qing Mengzhu and barked, "Woof woof!"

Qing Mengzhu raised the bowl to avoid being attacked by them. "This is medicine for humans; puppies shouldn't eat too much."

Dharma Protector: "Woof woof!"

Qing Mengzhu: "I'll cook you a different kind of meat soup tomorrow, so don't peep."

The Dharma Protector disagreed, placing the dog's head on Qing Mengzhu's lap. "Woof!"

Qing Mengzhu quickly put down the bowl in her hand and pushed the dog's head away. "No whining, whining won't work."

Ming Chunxi flicked the Dharma Protector's forehead with her finger. "Go eat your own food."

The two dogs circled around them, with the Dharma Protector seeming particularly defiant, barking incessantly.

Qing Mengzhu had no choice but to take out the pet jerky she bought from the Interstellar Mall and give each of the dogs a piece to barely suppress their dissatisfaction.

Qing Mengzhu sipped the Solomon's Sesame and Lean Pork soup and muttered to Ming Chunxi, "Next time we'll drink it behind their backs. Those two greedy dogs, they're always drooling over what people are eating."

Ming Chunxi glanced at the two dogs beside her. "It's not necessarily because they're greedy, it's mainly because they're resentful and unhappy. Why should we be the only ones eating, and not the other dogs?"

Qing Mengzhu turned to look at the two dogs and chuckled, "It really is."

The Dharma Protector and Guard were very clever and could help herd geese, hazel grouse, and ducks.

They are so enthusiastic mainly because they see themselves as part of the family, so they have an exceptionally strong sense of self-esteem, unlike other dogs.

That's how it is with raising small animals; you have to accept their capabilities as well as their rebelliousness.

Qing Mengzhu was prepared for this, so she didn't say anything to them, but silently hid the Solomon's Seal in a high place in the cupboard to prevent them from finding it and eating it.