Zhao Liangcai looked at Fuzi's wronged expression and did not soften his heart.
Ever since Fuzi had his accident, Zhao Liangcai had been thinking that once Fuzi recovered, he would prioritize Fuzi's martial arts training.
As for Fuzi proactively seeking out Qin Junyao during the New Year, that was the result of his constant hints, but Zhao Liangcai would not tell Fuzi.
"Time's up."
With a shout of "Time's up," Fuzi immediately sat down on the ground, and then was lifted up by his brother by his collar.
"Go run a few laps, quickly."
Fuzi pouted, limped, and slowly moved around the mountaintop.
Qin Junyao stretched her legs, a smile on her face as she watched Fuzi, who looked like a little old man.
"Qin Junyao, here," Zhao Liangcai took out a dagger from his pocket and handed it to Qin Junyao.
After these days of getting along, the relationship between the two had improved. At least Zhao Liangcai could call Qin Junyao by her name directly, and Qin Junyao wouldn't mind if he sometimes called her Junyao.
"What?" Qin Junyao only saw a dagger in a leather sheath after she received it.
"I won't be back tomorrow. I have military matters to attend to. You take Fuzi to train every morning."
"Dengzuitui will stay in the village. I've already had him mentor your second brother to see if he's got what it takes. He and your second brother are both eloquent and have mild tempers."
"Also, remember the routines I taught you. Once you're familiar with them, go find Dengzuitui, and he'll spar with you."
As Zhao Liangcai spoke, he reached out and tucked a strand of Qin Junyao's hair behind her ear. Qin Junyao looked down at the dagger without dodging, which made Zhao Liangcai very happy.
"Actually, I'd rather spar with you myself. That way, I can hold your hand," Zhao Liangcai said, getting bolder and reaching to grab Qin Junyao's hand.
Qin Junyao quickly lifted her foot, but her kick missed. Zhao Liangcai had already predicted Qin Junyao's move and nimbly dodged.
"If you have something to say, just say it properly. Are you going to Salt Lake without taking Fuzi?" Qin Junyao held the dagger towards Zhao Liangcai, telling him to stand further away.
"Once I return, Salt Lake will be peaceful. It's not safe to bring Fuzi."
"Coincidentally, Yan Bai's school has opened. Fuzi can study there during the day, and follow Mr. Zheng at night. All meals will be prepared by Granny Ma, so there shouldn't be any major problems."
"The servants at home have also been sorted out, and the mutton incident won't happen again. If Granny Sun or Madam Qian cause trouble at your place again, just let our Granny handle them."
Qin Junyao's dagger stabbed forward, "What 'our Granny'? That's my grandma."
"It will be sooner or later."
"Zhao Liangcai, you're acting up again. Stop right there."
"Put down the dagger. If you don't know how to use it, don't hurt yourself. Put it down..."
Fuzi, with his hands on his hips, looked at the two chasing each other and sighed helplessly. He didn't even play like this with his friends anymore.
Before going home, Qin Junyao had promised to come out and play the zither for Zhao Liangcai in the evening. It was then she realized that her zither music had a hypnotic effect on Zhao Liangcai.
Qin Junyao had never told her family about her zither. She had mentioned to Grandma Qin last time that she had been taught to play the zither by a Bodhisattva, and Grandma Qin had been slightly displeased.
So she kept it a secret from her family, but she had other secrets too.
Back home, Qin's mother was bringing dishes into the house. "Junyao, you're back. I was just thinking of sending your brother to look for you if you didn't return soon."
"Mom, why are we eating so early today?" Qin Junyao washed her hands and helped Qin's mother carry bowls.
"We'll plant wheat after dinner. The rain yesterday was good, and the winter wheat in our field and Uncle Hou's field is growing back well. This year will surely be a bountiful harvest."
Qin Junyao placed the bowls on the table and followed Qin's mother into the kitchen, asking her questions from behind.
"Mom, isn't winter wheat planted in autumn? Can wheat also be planted in spring?"
"Some wheat is planted in spring and harvested in autumn, and some is planted in autumn and harvested in early summer of the following year. Here, we have three harvests in two years, so we need to rotate crops."
"In our old hometown, we have two harvests a year. Fortunately, we have a lot of land here. If we plant well, we'll get more grain than in our hometown."
Qin Junyao watched Qin's mother bring steamed potatoes into the room. Three harvests in two years? Two harvests a year? How did that work?
Having seen crops mature once a day in her space, Qin Junyao didn't quite understand how farming worked outside.
Sitting at the dinner table, Qin Junyao peeled a potato and finally voiced her question.
"Dad, what do we plant after harvesting the two mu of wheat?" Qin Junyao was referring to the wheat fields that were currently growing back.
"We'll plant potatoes. Two mu of potatoes won't be enough for us, so we'll have to open up more land."
"Oh," Qin Junyao asked again, "And what do we plant after harvesting the wheat we're planting today?"
"We'll plant more wheat. It will be a busy autumn this year," Qin's father said, taking a bite of half a potato without peeling it.
Qin's mother chimed in, "Being busy is good. Being busy means we have a lot of grain."
Qin Junyao didn't quite understand and continued to ask, "Dad, what do we plant after harvesting potatoes?"
"By the time the potatoes are harvested, it will be almost winter. We can only wait until spring to plant wheat or corn."
This time, Qin Junyao understood what "three harvests in two years" meant. It wasn't that wheat matured three times, but that three crops matured.
Seeing that Qin Junyao still wanted to ask more, Grandma Qin tapped the table. "Stop asking and eat quickly. Everyone else is almost done, and you haven't even finished peeling one potato. You're not even as fast as Xiaoyu."
Qin Junyao looked at the speed at which everyone at the table was eating and obediently shut her mouth, taking large bites of potato and swallowing with the help of the thin millet porridge.
She couldn't eat any more in small bites. She was tired of steamed potatoes.
After dinner, Qin Junyao said she wanted to check the grain seeds, but in reality, she was going to exchange seeds. The wheat from her space had a hundred percent germination rate.
Qin's father, along with Qin Daniu and Qin Erniu, had opened up five more mu of land next to the original two mu of wheat fields.
According to Qin's father's later understanding, the land that had been reclaimed was previously farmland or people's courtyards.
However, due to strong winds and sand, the surface water was severely lacking, making it unfavorable for crop growth. Therefore, the villagers of Yangshu Village had gradually moved their land to more distant locations over the past decade or so.
Qin's father had also discussed it with the Hou family, but seeing that the wheat their families planted did not appear to be lacking water, and the villagers of Yangshu Village who were friendly with Qin's father couldn't understand what was going on.
So Qin's father decided to take a gamble. At worst, he would spend more effort watering.
Little did they know that during the growth period of the wheat, Qin Junyao would visit the wheat fields of both families every few days to water them.
She also watered the empty plots around the fields after snow and rain, and scattered wild vegetable seeds. Otherwise, she wouldn't have to spend all her time farming in her space just to have enough space water.
Qin's father borrowed a cow and a plow from someone else.
Qin Sanniu led the cow, Qin's father guided the plow at the front, and Qin's mother followed behind, spreading manure and soil.
Next, Grandma Qin led the cow, Qin Daniu guided the plow, and Qin's second aunt followed behind, sowing seeds.
Qin Junyao was at the very back, burying the soil. Qin Xiaoyu and Qin Sen picked up the unearthed grass roots. Qin Erniu shuttled back and forth, transporting manure, soil, and seeds.
They finished planting the five mu of land in one day. Qin Junyao had hardly spoken during this time.
Apart from guiding the plow, which required skill, everyone took turns doing the other tasks. Qin Junyao experienced the feeling of handling manure and soil with her bare hands.
The manure soil was a mixture of fermented manure and soil. Although it no longer had much of a smell, Qin Junyao still washed her hands several times before going to the mountaintop to play the zither for Zhao Liangcai. She bathed again in her space that night.