Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 898 - 896_1

Chapter 898: Chapter 896_1

Seeing everyone’s expressions, Xiao’er knew what they were thinking. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and smiled, "I used to do farming at home when I was a kid."

The villagers were somewhat incredulous at this.

They glanced at Xiao’er’s hands - delicate and soft, they didn’t look like they had ever handled a hoe.

However, without having ploughed the fields, how could she handle the hoe so adeptly!

Practice makes perfect, some truths don’t warrant disbelief.

Some villagers couldn’t help sneaking a look at Shangguan Xuanyi standing next to Xiao’er, behaving like a maid, wiping her sweat and fanning her from time to time.

They then glanced at Xiao’er, the sun had given her baby face a rosy glow: even drenched in sweat and dishevelled, she was still beautiful enough to make one drool.

No wonder she could marry rich and was so doted upon by her husband.

She was undoubtedly a golden phoenix that flew out of a farmer’s home!

Having heard Xiao’er’s words, Wei Zhuang was more certain of his suspicion. Rumour had it that Princess Rui was strikingly beautiful, unparalleled in the world.

The beauty of the lady was indeed rare in this world, he couldn’t help stealing several glances, of course, he also noticed other villagers frequently forgetting to blink while looking at her.

"The branches of the yellow dragon fruit need support, so they must be planted around this large moso bamboo. Three plants per bamboo, after planting the fruit trees, we need to build a circular support system to prevent the branches from getting too heavy or getting broken down by the wind." Xiao’er finished planting a tree and picked up some bamboo to create the support.

She hadn’t done farming for a long time, so her palms were beginning to hurt a little.

"I’ll do it!" Shangguan Xuanyi noticed this and took over willingly.

"Can you handle it?" Xiao’er glanced at him, her eyes filled with doubt.

"What do you think!" Shangguan Xuanyi looked deeply into her eyes, his gaze as if saying: don’t you know if I can handle it or not?

Seeing his suggestive gaze, Xiao’er embarrassedly recalled what she had forgotten - it was a man’s biggest dread to be doubted about his capabilities.

She quickly averted her eyes, pretending not to understand.

"Is this correct?" Shangguan Xuanyi held up a piece of bamboo and inserted it about thirty centimeters away from the sapling.

"Huh? What?" Xiao’er was a bit slow to react.

Shangguan Xuanyi looked at her deeply again and asked seriously, "What are you pondering over? Your face is so red."

That man! When did he become so wicked! His glance was just too mischievous. Xiao’er wished she could gouge out his eyes. It was clearly he who intentionally uttered those words, making her mind wander!

Xiao’er glared at him fiercely, snappily retorting, "I wasn’t thinking about anything!"

Xiao’er’s tone was unintentionally a bit harsh.

Prince Jingrui was digging holes not far away. When he heard Xiao’er’s tone, he lifted his head, questioning with his eyes, "What’s wrong?"

Everyone else also turned to look at Xiao’er.

Xiao’er suppressed her urge to glare fiercely at Shangguan Xuanyi, instead she replied smilingly, "It’s nothing."

Shangguan Xuanyi chuckled quietly, his voice deep, like a cello playing.

Everyone, upon witnessing this, knew that the couple was flirting. They found it endearing, noting how good the relationship between the couple was.

Xiao’er dared not glare at Shangguan Xuanyi anymore. She scolded sternly, "Are you going to make the support or not? If you’re not, then get out of the way! I’ll do it! You’re just wasting time!"

Someone got mad out of embarrassment!

The others couldn’t help but chuckle as they watched: the couple indeed was being playful.

This kind of relationship was quite rare.

Shangguan Xuanyi knew he couldn’t provoke Xiao’er anymore. He looked a bit wronged and asked her seriously, "I’ll do it, but how? You have to teach me, I don’t know how!"

Xiao’er scorned him in her heart: inconsistency between words and actions.

But to keep from adding fuel to the fire and making her face even redder, she cleared her throat and solemnly instructed, "Make a circular support around these three fruit trees with the bamboo..."

While teaching Shangguan Xuanyi to build the support, she explained to the villagers, "Yellow dragon fruit can be planted all year round. Each moso bamboo can support 3-4 plants. Allowing the pitaya trees to grow upwards along the bamboos. According to estimations, one acre of land can grow about 300 seedlings, which can greatly improve the land utilization rate and increase the yield in the young fruiting period.

Also, the yellow dragon fruit must not be planted too deep, just three centimeters deep is enough. Right after planting, it’s necessary to keep the soil moist."

Shangguan Xuanyi erected the support as per Xiao’er’s instructions.

The villagers also understood now how to do it, and they even made it look better than Shangguan Xuanyi’s.

"So ugly!" Xiao’er couldn’t help but critique.

"Each profession has its own expertise! As long as it serves its purpose." Shangguan Xuanyi admitted without any embarrassment.

At this time, Zhao Yong brought over a bucket of water to water the newly planted yellow dragon fruit saplings.

"Let me wash off this mud first." Xiao’er took this opportunity to dip her hands in, pretending to wash them and simultaneously adding a bit of space water into the bucket.

There were tens of thousands of saplings; it was impossible for Xiao’er to wait until all the villagers had finished planting and then sprinkle each one with space water.

So she only added a little to this bucket.

"Yellow dragon fruit is drought-resistant; after planting, it needs watering every two days to keep the soil moist. The roots of the yellow dragon fruit are relatively shallow. Fertilizer should be applied in small amounts and frequently to prevent root burn or rot. After budding, dilute human excrement can be applied about ten centimeters away from the plant. Apply the fertilizer whenever it buds, keeping it up until it blossoms.

In the first year, apply fertilizer six to eight times. In winter, apply organic fertilizer from the fermentation pond once, sparingly per plant to enhance resistance. Apply the pre-flower fertilizer in April, the fruit-strengthening fertilizer in August, and the winter fertilizer in December. The flowering period of yellow dragon fruit is quite long, so when it blooms, ensure that it gets enough nutrients so that the fruit is big and sweet."

Everyone listened carefully and jotted it down.

As Huzi’s father had sprained his foot, though after eating Xiao’er’s pills for a few days he didn’t feel the pain anymore and wanted to plant saplings, Xiao’er, however, sternly prevented him.

Huzi’s father was restless, he had Huzi provide him a stool. He sat on it and still managed to dig holes and plant yellow dragon fruits with a hoe and a shovel.

Seeing this, beyond being impressed, Xiao’er didn’t know what to say.

Xiao’er knew he was just concerned about Huzi’s mother toiling alone. Hence he was doing his utmost to help.

So Xiao’er believed that whether a woman was happy or not, it’s not about how the family she married into is, but about how her husband treats her and what kind of person her husband is.

As long as her partner does his best to care for and progress with her, why worry about happiness not knocking on your door!

Xiao’er stood aside, watching Huzi’s mother finish planting a tree and watering it, before reminding everyone that they must erect the scaffold. It was not urgent now as they had just planted the saplings and could do it after the plants sprouted. After which, she said her goodbyes and left.