The Lucky Farmgirl

Even when preparing compost, one must choose a method that is doable. In "The Development of Farming Manure from Ancient Times to Present," Manbao had selected three methods that they could implement.

Among the methods introduced by the author, which are chronologically developed, Manbao felt that one was identical to their current method of composting at home. That method was also feasible, albeit quite slow, requiring a longer fermentation time.

The method they currently used, due to the adoption of insulation measures and a secondary processing of the materials thrown in, worked much faster.

Given the recent rise in temperature, Manbao and her family had decided to plant ginger pieces after a while, by which time they would need a large amount of farm compost, which was why she chose this method.

Seeing that Old Zhou indeed bore no blame towards her, Manbao’s courage grew, and she proudly said to him, "Dad, I was thinking that since we didn’t know whether this method would be successful or not, I had Silang try it out first, and planned to tell you after it proved successful."

Old Zhou truly rejoiced, affectionately stroking his youngest daughter’s head, "Manbao has thought everything through. Just now, your elder brother and I took a look, and indeed, this method is good. We’ve only been digging this pit for seven or eight days, and it’s already fermenting. Perhaps it might even be ready after a few more days."

Manbao’s spirits lifted, and she immediately said, "The book says we need to control the temperature and not let it get too hot, otherwise the nutrient value would be burned away, so when the temperature gets too high, we need to open it up to cool down or dry it out a bit. Once the temperature drops, we pile it up again and pour some manure to ferment a second time. Dad, do you think our temperature is high enough?"

Old Zhou, however, had no idea; he had never used this method before, and even the concept of the compost heap temperature being too high was new to him.

But after all, he had been a farmer all his life. Even if he didn’t understand, he could still ponder over it, unlike Zhou Si, who merely followed whatever Manbao said.

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So after a little thought, he asked Dalang to reopen the grass cover and then to turn over the compost.

All the sons were kept back by Old Zhou; of course, as the only literate person and the one who had imparted the knowledge, Manbao was also kept back, while the others and the children went back home first.