Chapter 40 (continued)

In reality, he was busy in the fields every day, and even if someone noticed him entering the pond, they wouldn't know exactly what he did.

However, the strange appearance of the pond the next day astonished everyone who saw it.

--The lotus pond is bursting with blossoms.

It's lotus season now, and every lotus pond or field is blooming with lotuses of all sizes.

The lotus pond at Qing Mengzhu's house is also one.

However, this is his first year planting lotus, and he used lotus seeds instead of lotus roots like others, so his lotus flowers have not been blooming very well.

These two ponds are so big, but only forty or fifty lotus flowers bloom at the same time each day. There are more flowers than leaves, making it look rather bleak.

Today is different. There are at least a hundred flowers in his pond. The buds that were previously in bloom have suddenly entered the blooming period at an accelerated pace, and many new buds and tender leaves have also grown in the lotus pond.

What's even more amazing is that the water in his pond seems to have become much clearer, with ripples reflecting the sunlight, making it even more beautiful than some other ponds.

After picking vegetables in the morning, people working nearby came over to join in the fun, praising Qing Mengzhu's pond.

Tong Jiangang, whose family also grows lotus, couldn't help but call out to Qing Mengzhu, who was still in the vegetable garden, "Mengzhu, what fertilizer did you use for the lotus pond recently? Why are there so many flowers?"

Qing Mengzhu walked over and said, "Just chicken manure and tea seed cake? Didn't everyone see me applying the fertilizer?"

Tong Jiangang craned his neck to look at the pond. "Is tea seed cake really that effective? I also used chicken manure at home, but the lotus is still only growing so-so."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's hard to say. It could also be because my lotus is in a period of rapid growth. If you also want to use tea seed cake, you should be careful, as it's quite effective at killing fish and shrimp."

In an effort to increase profits, Tong Jiangang's family raised crayfish in their lotus field. Recently, it's crayfish season, and adding tea seed cake would be too harmful to them.

Upon hearing Qing Mengzhu's reminder, Tong Jiangang nodded. "I know. It's just that your lotus is growing so well, it's really making me envious."

Qing Mengzhu: "It's alright. My lotuses weren't growing as well as yours before, but now they've caught up a bit. Maybe it's because the temperature is higher and the lotuses have entered a period of rapid growth? Or maybe it's because I grew them from lotus seeds, so their growth cycle is a bit different from other people's lotuses."

Hearing him say that, everyone was somewhat understanding. "Maybe you did a good job with the fertilizer and water management before, and now the flowers are blooming profusely."

Qing Mengzhu: "I guess so."

After a brief discussion, everyone went back to their respective fields to work.

Tan Wenlei had finished working in the vegetable garden and was squatting on the pond bank smoking a cigarette. "Is it really the lotus's growth cycle? Didn't you come over last night to fertilize it?"

Qing Mengzhu asked calmly, "What kind of fertilizer could have this effect?"

Tan Wenlei thought about it and agreed, "You grow lotuses really well. I've seen others grow them for half their lives and they might not be as good as you."

Qing Mengzhu picked a lotus pod nearby, broke it open, and slowly extracted the lotus seeds. She then shared half with Tan Wenlei, saying, "Farming depends on experience and talent. I stay home every day reading books and absorbing other people's experiences. It's hard not to do well."

Tan Wenlei peeled off the outer skin of the lotus seeds, removed the lotus hearts, threw the remaining lotus seeds into his mouth, and began to chew them with a crunching sound.

He had intended to talk while chewing, but after chewing, he froze.

Qing Mengzhu was also eating lotus seeds, asked, "What's wrong?"

Tan Wenlei opened his palm, looking at the remaining lotus seeds in his hand. "What variety of lotus is this? It tastes so good!"

Qing Mengzhu: "It's an old variety left over from home. I found it in the cupboard, but I don't know exactly which variety it is."

Lotus seeds can be preserved for over a thousand years. Hearing Qing Mengzhu say this, Tan Wenlei really couldn't guess which variety it was. He simply said, "Your lotus seeds are really delicious—crisp, sweet, and fragrant. If I knew the variety, I'd plant some next year too."

Qing Mengzhu and said, "It's no trouble at all. If you want to plant them, I'll share some lotus seeds and roots with you next year. But these are deep-water lotuses; do you have a pond at home?"

Qing Mengzhu is also curious whether lotus seeds will degenerate after being given to others? And whether first-generation and second-generation lotuses will have the same characteristics?

If the second-generation lotus can maintain the same quality as his family's current lotus, he can consider handing the lotus over to experts to see if it can be promoted to other markets.

He's linked to an Interstellar Mall, so he has to squeeze some profits out of Blue Planet.

He has now become familiar with some of the faculty and students at Tengcheng Agricultural University. If this variety of lotus is truly excellent, it will be quite easy for him to collaborate with experts.

Tan Wenlei was delighted to hear Qing Mengzhu say that, "Yes, my family's pond is on the mountain. I used to want to raise cold-water fish; they taste better."

Qing Mengzhu: "Then I'll save some for you after this batch of lotus seeds or lotus roots is harvested."

Tan Wenlei: "Let's go with lotus roots. They say lotus seeds grown from lotus seeds aren't very stable. You can sell me some of the lotus roots after you harvest them. Your lotus flowers are so beautiful, and the lotus pods are so delicious. If I can grow them, I'll definitely grow more."

Qing Mengzhu nodded. "I also think it's a good idea to plant more. Lotuses sell well now, so we don't have to worry about not being able to consume them all if we plant more."

Tan Wenlei: "That's exactly what I mean. Speaking of selling, it seems like Sixteenth Uncle has come back."

The Sixteenth Uncle that Tan Wenlei mentioned is none other Qing Guozhi.

The old man and his children and grandchildren went to the north for a summer vacation, and Qing Mengzhu hasn't seen him for quite a while.

Qing Mengzhu in surprise, "You saw him?"

Tan Wenlei: "I saw that the gate to his yard was open, but I was in a hurry to come and harvest the vegetables this morning, so I didn't look closely. I don't know if it was him coming back or someone else coming to help him clean?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Then I'll take a detour that way when I go back later."

After exchanging a few words, the two went their separate ways to get to work.

Around nine o'clock, the sun was high in the sky, and Qing Mengzhu's back was burning from the heat. He couldn't stay in the field any longer, so he simply packed up his things and prepared to go home.

Before going home, he even went to the lotus pond and picked several lotus pods.

The lotus pods are still tender now, and they taste very fragrant and sweet, making them a true seasonal vegetable.

As they age, the lotus seeds turn black, giving them a different flavor.

Although Qing Mengzhu cherished her family's lotus pods and rarely sold them, she felt she shouldn't be stingy since she had cultivated them for so long and wanted to eat them herself.

The lotus stems were a bit prickly, so he wrapped them in lotus leaves before carrying a large handful of lotus pods toward the Qing Guozhi family.

The old man doesn't usually live in the village, but his family is wealthy, and the old house in the village has been well-maintained, looking like a small villa.

Qing Mengzhu rarely came to this side of the village. When he arrived at the old man's house, he rang the doorbell.

Before the doorbell had even finished ringing, the old man's strong, resonant voice came from inside. "Coming! Who is it?"

Qing Mengzhu: "It's me, Qing Mengzhu. Sixteenth Grandpa, you're back?"

The old man was delighted to hear his voice and came to open the door. "How do you know so well? You just got back and you already knew!"

Qing Mengzhu: "I heard it from Uncle Wenlei while I was working in the fields."

The old man said, "No wonder. Oh my, your lotus pods are already ripe?"

Qing Mengzhu: "They're just ripe, let's pick one and try it."

The old man led Qing Mengzhu into the house and then found a teapot and teacups to make tea for him.

Qing Mengzhu then placed the lotus pods down, which were just right to accompany the tea.

After the tea was brewed, the two sat down.

The old man eagerly picked up a lotus seedpod and began peeling it. "It's been so long since I've had lotus seedpods; the ones you buy outside aren't very good."

Qing Mengzhu: "Lotus pods don't keep well. If you leave them for just two hours, the lotus seeds inside will turn into raw peanuts."

The old man said, "It's not even as good as raw peanuts. I think it's more like raw sweet potatoes—bland and tasteless, and it'll hurt your gums."

The old man, who had eaten too many raw sweet potatoes in his youth, harbored a deep resentment towards them. Qing Mengzhu, seeing his expression, couldn't help but laugh.

The old man laughed too, and threw the lotus seeds and lotus hearts into his mouth to chew.