Chen Lan, along with Ming Wei and the students, foraged in the mountains daily like squirrels stocking up for winter, and they indeed brought back many good things.
Time flew by! In the blink of an eye, it was time for the first alfalfa harvest. After breakfast that day, Chen Lan arranged for Ming Wei to distribute straw hats to each of the students. Then, she led them to the field where the alfalfa was planted.
Ming Wei brought the students to the alfalfa field. By this time, the alfalfa had grown to about seventy to eighty centimeters tall. A small portion of it had already bloomed with small purple flowers, and the air was filled with a faint scent of grass.
The students stood by the roadside, looking at the vast expanse of alfalfa, and exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what Teacher Xu had brought them here to do. If they were meant to harvest the alfalfa, they hadn't been given any sickles.
While the students were murmuring amongst themselves, they saw Chen Lan approaching in a multi-functional agricultural tractor.
Chen Lan drove the tractor up to them and got out. Seeing the students staring at her, Chen Lan smiled and said loudly, "Students, our task today is to harvest the alfalfa. Your main job will be to carry the alfalfa cut by the harvester from the field to this newly built cement road to dry, and to turn it over regularly. Do you understand?"
The students felt that the task today was relatively easy and happily replied loudly, "Understood."
Chen Lan wasted no time and waved her hand, "Let's get started."
At this point, Ming Wei was already in the tractor's cabin, started the engine, and began working in the field. In no time at all, a large area had been harvested.
Chen Lan quickly went into the field to check the stubble height. Fortunately, it was about six to seven centimeters, a length that was suitable for the second crop of alfalfa to grow. After harvesting, they would fertilize the field with compound fertilizer and irrigate it promptly. By mid to late September, they would be able to harvest the second crop.
According to authoritative experts, the first crop of alfalfa has the highest nutritional value. The stems and leaves of alfalfa are rich in protein and minerals, as well as various vitamins and other nutrients. Furthermore, humans can also consume it as a vegetable. Moderate consumption by humans can improve gastrointestinal function, lower cholesterol levels, improve diabetes, and alleviate menopausal discomfort.
Upon hearing the command, the students rushed forward and began working quickly, carrying the alfalfa from the field to the cement road and arranging it neatly in rows! After all, they had been through training during this period, and they were all working in a proper manner.
Seeing that everyone was working diligently, Chen Lan stopped paying attention to them and decided to go and check on the new feed warehouse that Xiangxi and the others had built.
This feed warehouse was built on a high slope with ample open space around it, suggesting good ventilation. Upon entering the warehouse, she found that the surrounding walls and floor had been plastered with cement mortar, which would prevent rats and insects and also prevent wall leakage and dampness from the ground.
The warehouse was spotlessly clean. Chen Lan thought that with Uncle Fu overseeing things nearby, Xi Guagua was becoming more meticulous and considerate in his work, and he was becoming more reliable.
Chen Lan inspected carefully and noticed that shelves for storing feed were missing. When storing feed, it should not come into direct contact with the ground and walls; it needs to be separated by wooden supports.
Chen Lan placed an order through the system for several sets of wooden shelves and took them out of the system warehouse, placing them against the wall. She then ordered special large bags for storing feed from the system.
The remaining issue was the disinfection of the feed warehouse. Chen Lan opened the system with her thoughts and consulted the system data. There were various opinions and methods. Chen Lan was completely baffled.
Finally, after comparing the pros and cons of various methods, Chen Lan decided to use ultraviolet irradiation sterilization. This method caused less damage to the vitamins, proteins, and amino acids in the feed. However, the only drawback was the increased cost of the feed.
Chen Lan thought to herself that she wasn't running a business, so why worry about costs? She was the kind of person who hated trouble, so she would do whatever was most convenient.
Finally, to be safe, Chen Lan ordered an ozone generator from the system. Ozone can kill various pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and it also has the advantages of thorough sterilization, broad spectrum, and no residue.
It also has the advantages of strong sterilization, no dead corners in sterilization, and no residual ozone.
After dealing with matters here, she would trouble Xi Guagua again tomorrow to arrange for someone to bring a power switch, and then they could use the ozone generator and ultraviolet lamp to disinfect the warehouse.
Chen Lan returned to where everyone was working and found that Ming Wei had already harvested half of the planted alfalfa. Grandpa Zhou was leading some of Xu Mingxuan's comrades in bundling the harvested alfalfa into bundles, presumably for feeding the pigs and sheep.
Chen Lan walked over and cheerfully greeted Grandpa Zhou and Xu Mingxuan's comrades one by one.
Upon seeing Chen Lan, Grandpa Zhou immediately smiled and explained, "Xiao Lan! The grass you planted is great! The Angora goats and piglets love to eat it and grow well. You should go to the sheep pens when you have time; the lambs are almost grown into adult sheep. We've been adding this alfalfa to their feed, and they love it. Both the sheep and pigs have grown so much!"
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "Alright! Grandpa Zhou, I'll definitely go and see the sheep pens and pigpens after I'm done with these few busy days. Oh, right! Grandpa Zhou, a feed warehouse has been built on the high slope over there. Once we dry this alfalfa and pack it into bags, you can directly get the feed from the warehouse to feed the livestock."
Grandpa Zhou chuckled and said, "That would be wonderful! Xiao Lan! You're doing our work for us; are we going to be too idle?"
Chen Lan smiled and said, "Grandpa Zhou, I know that you and the elder brothers are very busy every day. You clean the sheep pens and pigpens twice a day. This work is dirty and tiring, and by no means easy. Moreover, you tirelessly haul the cleaned manure to the composting area every day."
Grandpa Zhou waved his hand dismissively, "Xiao Lan! What's so tiring about that! Isn't this what we who raise sheep and pigs should do? It's not worth you praising us so much. I did hear from your Aunt Zhou and the others that you and Teacher Xu have been going around the mountain with the children every day. I heard you brought back a lot of good things for winter. We've also benefited from it, eating several big meals. The main kitchen has chicken soup every day lately. This is all thanks to you; you are the ones who have truly worked hard!"