Chapter 17: Insect Ash
"Baozhu, come out and play! Here, I just picked some mulberries, have something sweet."
"Baozhu, want some dried sweet potato?"
Ever since the pest crisis was resolved, Song Baozhu's popularity in Xiangfu Village had soared even higher than before.
As soon as she stepped out the door, people would immediately surround her to offer all sorts of small snacks.
Song Zhizhong now loved going out with Song Baozhu, she usually couldn't finish the snacks the adults gave her, so it all ended up benefiting him.
Today, Song Baozhu had been studying for most of the day and took advantage of the evening breeze to head out for some air. The villagers were all cooling off by the riverbank.
When they saw Song Baozhu, their eyes lit up with a green glow, as if they wished they could steal her away and raise her themselves.
After chatting with the village grandfathers and grandmothers for a while, she noticed Song Zhizhong looking at the village boys swimming in the river with a face full of envy.
Song Baozhu sighed like a little adult: "Fifth Brother, just go. I won't tell Mom."
Wang Guifang was afraid Song Baozhu would run into the river alone, so she had instructed Song Zhizhong to watch her.
Song Zhizhong was tempted but hesitant: "That’s probably not a good idea; Mom told me to look after you."
"I’m not going in. I’ll just watch you from the bank," Song Baozhu raised her hand in a promise.
Song Zhizhong knew that although Song Baozhu was doted on by everyone in the family, she was very sensible.
He urged her, "Then you definitely mustn't go into the water. I’ll just swim for a bit and come right back."
As soon as Song Baozhu nodded, Song Zhizhong turned into a wild horse released from its reins. He stripped down to his underwear and jumped into the river with a putong splash.
Song Baozhu sat by the river, took off her shoes, and dipped her chubby, porcelain-white little feet into the shallow water at the edge. As the cool river water brushed over her feet, she narrowed her eyes in comfort.
Her eyes were large, but when narrowed, they looked long and slender, like a lazy kitten.
At this time, the girls of the village would take advantage of the cool weather to come to the river to wash clothes.
Just as Song Baozhu sat down, a large group of girls arrived beside her.
These girls were generally over ten years old, sensible and capable—efficient hands at helping their families with household chores.
"Baozhu, why are you sitting here all by yourself?" The speaker was Song Hongya from the third branch of the Song family. She was carrying a basin containing a laundry club and a few pieces of clothing.
She was nine years old now. Ma Xianglan doted on her daughter somewhat, so she looked much healthier than the other thin, gaunt little girls. She had a delicate appearance and a pair of very bright, clear eyes.
"Sister Hongya," Song Baozhu waved at her with a smile.
Song Hongya liked this beautiful, milky-scented younger cousin very much.
As she approached Song Baozhu, she cautioned her: "Stay a bit further back from the water, be careful not to fall in."
Song Baozhu nodded. Once Hongya was close, Baozhu pulled a handful of snacks from her pocket: "Here, for you."
"You eat them yourself." Song Hongya’s lips twitched as she looked at the dried sweet potatoes and peanuts, but she forced herself to look away.
Song Baozhu stuffed them into her hand: "Eat them! Otherwise, I’ll be too embarrassed to accept things from Third Aunt in the future."
Song Hongya burst out laughing and tapped her forehead: "Oh, so you know what 'embarrassed' means?" She had never seen anyone with a thicker skin than Song Baozhu.
"Sister Hongya, aren't you going to wash the clothes?"
At that moment, a very dark and thin little girl walked over, her gaze lingering for a moment on Song Baozhu's skin, which was smoother and whiter than milk.
Song Baozhu tilted her little face up and smiled at her: "Sister Hongcao, come here! I have peanuts." As she spoke, she pulled out another handful and handed them to Song Hongcao.
Song Hongcao was the youngest girl of the first branch of the Song family, seven years old this year. She pursed her lips and took the items from Song Baozhu.
When their hands touched, one was as withered as a dry stick, while the other was white and chubby, with adorable little dimples on the back of the hand.
Song Hongcao’s eyes darkened as she looked at her own hand, she took the snacks and sat silently to one side.
Song Hongya and Song Baozhu didn't pay it much mind. Song Hongcao was usually very quiet, timid, and shy, doing nothing but burying her head in work.
"Hongya, why did you come here? Oh, Baozhu is here too! Baozhu, let sister touch your face..."
"Baozhu, give us a smile; you look so pretty when you smile."
No sooner had Song Hongya and Song Hongcao sat down beside Song Baozhu than the rest of the girls swarmed over in a flurry. They especially loved teasing Song Baozhu.
Song Baozhu was like a bee entering a cluster of flowers, leaning against one sister and touching another, either praising one for her beautiful voice or another for her lovely eyes.
No one was busier than her, she laughed until her little white teeth showed, looking more beautiful than a flower. She had the group of girls doubling over with laughter, wishing they could steal her home to be their own sister.
Watching her little cousin surrounded by everyone, Song Hongya didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
As she washed clothes, she grumbled to Song Hongcao, "There truly isn't anyone with a sweeter mouth than her."
It was as if it were smeared with honey.
Song Hongcao’s back stiffened slightly, and she forced a thin smile onto her face.
Just as Song Baozhu was getting along famously with so many sisters, a young man's urgent voice suddenly came from the embankment, "Baozhu, Baozhu! My dad is looking for you, come with me quickly."
The newcomer was Song Deling’s youngest son.
"Brother Muzi, what's the matter? Why the rush?"
Song Hongya stood up and asked.
Song Zhimu scooped up Song Baozhu. "I can't explain it in just a few words. My dad is waiting for Baozhu. I won't talk to you all now."
Many people saw his anxious look, and many followed behind out of curiosity.
Song Zhimu carried Song Baozhu straight toward the fields at the east end of the village.
By the time the group arrived, many people were already gathered in the field, and exclamations of wonder could be heard from time to time.
Someone turned around and saw Song Baozhu in Song Zhimu’s arms and immediately shouted at the top of their lungs: "Baozhu is here! Baozhu is here!"
The crowd parted with a hua, and everyone looked at Song Baozhu with eyes full of near-reverence.
Song Hongya and the group of girls followed as well. Seeing this setup, they were completely bewildered. "What is going on?"
Song Deling was still squatting in the field.
Seeing Song Baozhu arrive, he stood up, took her directly from Song Zhimu’s arms, and led her into the field by the hand.
He led her to a small patch of corn. "Baozhu, come look. This is where you had me scatter the insect ash a few days ago. Look at these crops..."
He didn't need to say more; anyone with eyes could see it clearly. This small patch of corn where the insect ash was scattered was growing lush and green.
The corn stalks were taller than some men, and the ears of corn were large and full, looking as if they had grown frantically overnight.
Meanwhile, the surrounding corn, having had their roots and stems gnawed by those insects—was extremely short, yellow, and withered. Even the ears they produced were shriveled, drooping listlessly.
Today, Song Deling had been wandering the fields. Although the bugs were gone, the crops had been damaged after all, even if the autumn harvest went smoothly, he feared the yield would be greatly reduced.
He was sighing when he walked here and saw such a miraculous sight. Looking at this small patch of lush, flourishing corn, a mixture of immense joy and confusion surrounded him.
This corn grew too well—even better than in years without pest infestations.
But why?
He racked his brain, thinking back and forth, and suddenly remembered that Song Baozhu had asked him to scatter those insect ashes into the soil.
At the time, he had a psychological shadow regarding the bugs and only let everyone scatter a small amount randomly.
In a flash of realization, he figured this was the only possible reason, which was why he had hurriedly sent his youngest son to find Song Baozhu.
Song Baozhu walked in, took a look, and clapped her hands.
"It seems this insect ash is truly suitable for crop growth."
A villager was astonished: "Baozhu, you mean this corn is growing so well because of those insect ashes?"
Song Baozhu nodded: "Yes."
While studying in the Learning System, she had learned all the data on the Five-Footed Bugs. They grew by absorbing nutrients from plants and crops, but they also contained extremely high nutritional value and had a stimulating effect on plant growth.
It was just that Song Baozhu hadn't expected the Five-Footed Bugs to be so nutritious or the stimulating effect to be this good.
Fortunately, thinking that she would want to study them later, she had kept many of them raised behind the courtyard.
"Oh my God, those insect ashes are actually that effective! Where are the ashes?"
"The ashes were all blown away by the wind, a lot of them were blown into the river, and many others were swept up and thrown away by everyone."
Song Deling and the villagers immediately began thumping their chests and stomping their feet in frustration. "Hurry and look for them! Wherever those ashes were dumped, find them and bring them back immediately!"
After learning that the insect ash had such an effect, no one could sit still. The entire village mobilized at once. After everyone had viewed that patch of lush corn, they all wished they could turn back time.
All that insect ash—if it had been scattered into the fields, not only would the crops have been saved, but it would have been a bumper harvest.
Among them, Song Deling was the most regretful. He was so remorseful that he even clutched his head and hammered it.
"It's all my fault. If only I had listened to Baozhu."
Song Baozhu patted Song Deling on the shoulder—now you know to listen to me in the future, right?
The people of Xiangfu Village busied themselves for a long time, but unfortunately, most of the insect ash had vanished without a trace, only a small portion had been swept into the ditches at the edge of the fields.
Song Deling organized the villagers, wishing they could dig three feet into the ground in those ditches. Taking the soil from the ditches, they managed to barely scatter a layer over all the crop fields.
Song Hongya and the group of girls, having witnessed this scene, naturally talked about it when they returned to the riverbank to wash clothes.
"Hongya, your cousin really knows so much. Not only did she find a way to kill the bugs, but she also knew those insect ashes would be so useful," someone said to Song Hongya.
Song Hongya was very proud, after all, Song Baozhu was a member of the Song family. "Baozhu is indeed very smart. My Second Aunt says she already recognizes many words now, all of which she taught herself."
These girls had lived through those years of famine. If there wasn't enough food, the adults would always prioritize the older and younger brothers in the family.
These girls would sometimes be given a little broth, and other times, they simply had to go hungry.
They were lucky to have survived, no one knew how many girls their age hadn't made it through that disaster. When food was scarce, they were the ones who faced the brunt of it first.
Therefore, they were the ones who had been directly saved by Song Baozhu.
The younger ones might not understand, but those over ten years old knew in their hearts exactly how great a favor Song Baozhu’s discovery was to them.
Those who liked Song Baozhu before only liked her more now; those who didn't like her before were now at least filled with gratitude.
As soon as one person spoke, the other girls enthusiastically chimed in, praising Song Baozhu for a time as if she were a being unparalleled in heaven or on earth.
Only Song Hongcao, listening to the girls' praise of Song Baozhu, kept her head lowered with an expression that was incredibly unsightly.
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