Chapter 687: Chapter 458: Potato Harvest
So, everyone got even busier next.
They continued with their original work, but Commander Zhou specially assigned twenty people to Jiang Wei.
They didn’t need to clear more land; they could plant directly in the empty spaces in the cornfield.
Now, they had to cut all the potatoes into even-sized chunks with the eyes, and someone brought ash to coat each potato piece.
When others asked Jiang Wei what this was for, he simply said he thought there were many bugs in the field during spring, and the ash could prevent them, so the potato pieces wouldn’t get eaten.
Some of the potatoes dug up earlier had bug holes; this was quite normal.
After cutting and coating all the potato pieces with ash, they started planting them, leaving no piece behind.
Unfortunately, there weren’t many potatoes. Even after planting all of them, they only covered about three acres. Jiang Wei felt some regret, but that was the best they could do.
Once harvested this year, they could plant more by the end of next year.
The information Jiang Wei received indicated that potatoes are cold-resistant but can’t handle heat well. They hurriedly planted them now to take advantage of the cool weather and harvest earlier.
However, they grow a bit slowly when it’s cold; once the temperature rises, they’ll grow faster.
Of course, if it gets too hot, the potatoes can’t take it, and the yield won’t be good.
By estimating the time, they should be fine until July.
Then, by the end of the year, in December, they could plant another batch, and by the start of next spring, they would sprout and be ready for harvest in April or May, which is the peak yield time.
To ensure the potatoes grow quickly and well, Jiang Wei had people loosen the soil, fertilize, and water, staying busy and happy.
Although Commander Zhou and his team arrived a bit late, it didn’t stop them from working. When hearing the villagers talk about the taste of potatoes, they hoped the crop would grow quickly.
Once they planted everything, Wei Ziang returned, and everyone in the Jiang family set off back to Cheng County.
Wei Ziang had requested leave from General Song early on, knowing his second sister was getting married, so naturally, he wasn’t given a hard time.
Besides, with over a hundred thousand troops stationed in Lishi City recently, no enemy dared to cause trouble. Wei Ziang, holding a general’s rank, was actually spending his time in Shilin forging iron.
So, whether Wei Ziang was in Lishi City or not didn’t really matter.
Out of the five hundred imperial guards, two hundred stayed in Anning Village to help look after the more than one hundred acres of land; otherwise, with just over a hundred people in the village, it would be too much work.
After all, the seedlings had just been planted, and by early May, they would need to transplant rice seedlings, plant sweet potatoes, and irrigate the potato, corn, and sorghum fields, with wheat and rapeseed needing harvesting later.
And so on, with so much work and land to manage, they needed more hands.
Fortunately, apart from the Jiang family, there were quite a few people in the village who understood farming; otherwise, Jiang Hu wouldn’t have been able to return to Cheng County with peace of mind.
Of course, whether at ease or not, they had to return since the dates for the two children’s weddings had long been set, just waiting for everyone to go back.
In this regard, Jiang Hu’s second aunt felt a bit embarrassed.
The Liu family had taken good care of the Jiang family, and with the two families marrying, their son had been staying there every day.
Moreover, their engagement had been set early, and now the two children were nineteen and seventeen. The wedding had been postponed for several years, and they were still outside this time, not having returned.
The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt towards the two families and wanted to return as soon as possible so that they wouldn’t be on the road when the wedding day arrived.
So, once Wei Ziang returned from the military camp, they set out immediately, traveling day and night without rest. Luckily, Cheng County wasn’t particularly far, and with a quick pace, they managed to return by the end of March.
The wedding was set for May, leaving them a preparation and rest period of one month.
However, as soon as they returned to Cheng County, Liu Ze was taken back and told that before the wedding, he shouldn’t wander around recklessly or secretly meet the bride!
Liu Ze was almost in tears. If he had known, he wouldn’t have hurried back and would’ve returned just three days before the wedding, as everything that needed preparing was already prepared.
For once, Xiaoxue was a bit shy, finally having that first-love, newlywed bashfulness.
Perhaps because the two of them had been together every day since childhood, especially after getting engaged, they hadn’t spent a single day apart. Even knowing they were getting married, it didn’t feel much different.
Now, with the sudden separation for the wedding preparations, it suddenly felt quite different.
When the Jiang family returned to Xiangmu Village, Madame Liu had already had their home tidied up, knowing the Jiang family planned to stay at the border.
And they were aware that after the wedding and returning for the visit, they would prepare to head back to the border.
Though reluctant, they knew the Jiang family was dedicated to great endeavors, and their child was also
The fifth of May was Jiang Yu’s birthday, but with Xiaoxue’s wedding approaching, the second aunt simply made a little something special for him.
On the seventh, Xiaoxue was visibly nervous, and Xiaomi, who hadn’t gone anywhere lately, stayed with Xiaoxue the whole day.
The Jiang family didn’t have any maids, nor did they need them usually. Madame Liu sent her old maidservant to help dress up Xiaoxue and inform her of wedding protocols.
Early on the eighth morning, Liu Ze rode a grand horse, bringing rich bridal gifts, and eagerly came to take Xiaoxue as his bride.
But he arrived a little too early, and since Xiaoxue wasn’t ready to leave her maiden home, he could only sit like he was on pins and needles, chatting with his future in-laws and brother-in-law in the living room.
Fortunately, soon enough, they all headed out to welcome the guests.
That morning, the Jiang family began entertaining guests, with a banquet starting at dawn and continuing until noon. All acquaintances from within a ten-mile radius came to offer congratulations.
Everyone in the village came to share in the joy.
Even wealthy merchants and officials from the city came personally.
After all, it was quite an honor to attend the wedding feast of the marquis’s eldest daughter.
By noon, only those close to the Jiang family and some notable city figures remained in the yard, drinking.
Jiang Hu, accompanied by Liu Ze, toasted the guests, introducing Liu Ze as the Jiang family’s eldest son-in-law. Although everyone was already familiar with him, they still praised him, saying Jiang Hu had found a good son-in-law.
When the auspicious time arrived, under Liu Ze’s expectant gaze, Jiang Yu personally carried his sister from her room and placed her in the bridal sedan chair.
Beside him, Liu Ze was too excited to speak, while the Jiang family’s elderly couldn’t hold back their tears.
Though they knew the children would be back in a few days and head to Lishi City with them, the feeling of marrying off a daughter was different.
Before taking Xiaoxue back, Liu Ze kowtowed several times to Jiang Hu and his second aunt, assuring them not to worry.
Only then, amidst a chorus of congratulations, did he beam with delight as he took his bride home.
Back at the Liu family home, countless friends and relatives awaited their return for the wedding ceremony.