I Come to Teach You Cultivation-Chapter 108 - 20: Staple Crop Diversification and the Vegetable Basket Plan (5/5)

"Does that guy really know nothing?"

When Li Boyang returned to the village, he was still recalling Xiao Yue's shocked and bewildered expression.

Xiao Yue had no idea his body had been transformed into a "living talisman."

He only knew that when he was chosen as the "Minister of Justice," some abilities had been bestowed upon him by the Great Witches using a certain witchcraft curse.

During the casting of the curse, Xiao Yue was in a semi-conscious state the entire time.

When he awoke, he possessed the Hundred Battle Body he has now, capable of facing any mountain monster elf without falling short.

"Little brother?"

At that moment, Li Jingshu's voice called Li Boyang from his deep thought.

When Li Boyang turned his gaze toward her, Li Jingshu was standing at the village entrance with a gentle look.

Beside Li Jingshu, Xiao'e was quietly conversing with a middle-aged man whom Li Boyang didn't recognize.

The instant the middle-aged man saw Li Boyang, his eyes lit up, and he stared at him with an excited yet subdued expression.

"Big Girl? Xiao'e?"

With a puzzled look alternating between Li Jingshu and Xiao'e, Li Boyang finally gazed at the middle-aged man.

Li Boyang and Xiao'e weren't really familiar.

But he knew Xiao'e was the Witch from Gaotun Village, personally chosen by the Spring God Nvman as a successor.

Every spring, Xiao'e would bring people from other villages to Li Family Village to exchange for good seeds.

In a way, Li Boyang's reputation in the surrounding hundred miles was largely due to Xiao'e's voluntary promotion.

After all, ordinary mountain people wouldn't know that the fleeting appearance of the Red-haired Ghost God three years ago was Li Boyang.

"Uncle Lu's village was attacked by a mountain monster, so I brought him here to borrow seeds."

Walking slowly up to Li Boyang, Xiao'e explained in a gentle, practiced voice.

Witnessing this, both Li Jingshu and Uncle Lu simultaneously revealed a strange expression.

Especially Uncle Lu, who blinked in realization before almost breaking into a smile.

"Is that so?"

Without noticing Xiao'e's anomaly.

Li Boyang only thought for a moment, and the details of various villages within a hundred miles flashed through his mind.

"Uncle Lu, are you the village chief of Mountain Village?"

Not expecting Li Boyang to outright reveal his identity, Uncle Lu immediately continued the conversation.

"You're right, I'm the village chief of Mountain Village."

"Our village really had no option this time, which is why the witch brought me to trouble you."

Unlike Li Boyang's habitual choice of words, Uncle Lu genuinely respected him and even dared not make direct eye contact while speaking.

Of course, due to Li Boyang's height and appearance, the conversation scene seemed somewhat amusing.

However, apart from Uncle Lu, there were only teenagers present.

So, none of them cared about the disparity in status, appearance, and position.

"Are you still borrowing rice seeds this time?"

With a subtle shift of his eyes, Li Boyang pondered deeply and asked.

"Yes, I know this might affect your upcoming planting plans, but we really had no choice."

Each village consciously reserves enough seeds for the next planting during harvest.

In cases like suddenly borrowing seeds, whether the individuals admit it or not, it will definitely impact future planting plans.

However, Li Boyang was not concerned about this now.

"I know about your Mountain Village, the soil there is fertile but sunlight isn't adequate."

"The key issue is that cultivating rice consumes a lot of water resources, and around your village, there aren't any decent water veins!"

Li Boyang wasn't consulting Uncle Lu; he was certain about Mountain Village's situation.

Since the establishment of the Mountain God Reservoir, Li Boyang had already mapped out the earth vein and water vein conditions of nearby villages.

"You're right, so we can only work harder to fetch water from elsewhere."

Sourly affirming Li Boyang's observation.

Uncle Lu thought Li Boyang was worried their village couldn't return the seeds next year.

"No, what I mean is... would you like to try planting a different kind of good seed?"

"Like, maybe a buckwheat with a shorter growing cycle?"

"I have some quality buckwheat seeds here. Though the yield isn't as high as rice, it can reach about sixty percent of it."

"After all, even if your village plants rice, it'll only reach about eighty percent of normal yield at most."

"Considering your current situation, switching to buckwheat with shorter growth cycles and higher drought and cold resistance might be more suitable."

Li Boyang mentioned buckwheat not because he didn't want to popularize higher-yielding potatoes and corn.

He simply hadn't found suitable varieties of potatoes and corn for domestication yet.

By contrast, the short-cycle drought-resistant buckwheat cultivated two years ago indeed fit Mountain Village's circumstances well.

"This..."

Looking at Li Boyang with hesitation, Uncle Lu was apparently bewildered.

But despite Li Boyang's shining aura, such significant decisions affecting a village's future development can't be made instantly.

"Little brother, your old habit strikes again!"

Before Uncle Lu could decide how to respond to Li Boyang, Li Jingshu cheerfully interrupted their conversation.

"Your previously proposed 'multi-grain diversification' plan has been agreed upon by the village..."

"The old chief plans to have the production team develop a piece of barren land next year to experiment with those staple grains you cultivated."

Upon hearing Li Jingshu's words, Li Boyang was now the one feeling perplexed.

Staple grains are of far greater significance than vegetables and fruits; they directly relate to the mountain people's livelihood.

Previously, including the old village chief, most villagers only agreed to small-scale or off-season planting of auxiliary foods.

Even Li Boyang himself never expected the staple grains developed by the black dog to be broadly promoted within Li Family Village.

Of course, in the current context, such multi-grain planting plans are hardly necessary.

Unless one day there's a pest or disease specifically targeting rice.

Otherwise, all the suggestions Li Boyang made were but fanciful thinking.

"Really? When did the old village chief become so understanding?"

Habitually walking over to Li Boyang's side, Li Jingshu eagerly explained.

"Isn't it because of the 'Vegetable Basket Plan' you came up with before, which let everyone know that changing tastes occasionally is indeed not bad."

"Besides, the elders in the village aren't foolish; they understand those mischievous kids better than us."

"Compared to when they were young, those kids are healthier and less prone to illness now..."

"All thanks to the series of plans you advocated for taking effect."

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