AWB Chapter 146 Rice-Fish Symbiosis
Chapter 146 Rice-Fish Symbiosis
When everyone heard that a canal was to be dug, they all responded enthusiastically, as it would affect their future irrigation.
Li Mu divided everyone into several groups, each responsible for digging a section of the canal. He also specially invited technicians from the Water Resources Bureau to provide on-site guidance on how to dig the canal.
Under Li Mu's leadership, everyone worked enthusiastically, digging, transporting, and compacting the soil. Every step was carried out in an orderly manner, and in just a few days, the basic shape of the irrigation canal was dug out.
Next, we will lay cement and carry out subsequent reinforcement work.
Li Mu then contacted a cement factory and purchased enough cement to harden the irrigation canal. He even went to learn about cement mixing ratios and laying methods to ensure everything went perfectly.
After the cement arrived, Li Mu personally took charge, mixing the cement and laying the cement slabs with everyone else.
After several days of hard work, the irrigation canal was finally completed.
Finally, all that remained was to wait for the irrigation canal to harden and pass inspection. Li Mu would go to the canal every day to check for cracks or other problems, ensuring its quality.
On the day of acceptance, technicians from the Water Resources Bureau arrived at the site and conducted a comprehensive inspection and measurement of the canal. After a series of tests and evaluations, they announced that the canal had passed the acceptance inspection and could be officially put into use.
"Alright! Brother Wang! We can start turning the soil now!"
Old Wang had been waiting for this day. With a cigarette in his mouth, he boarded the Dongfanghong-75, skillfully started the machine, and began turning over the soil along the planned route.
The tracks rolled across the field, easily turning over the soil and revealing fertile soil layers.
"Everyone, let's not just sit there. Let's level the ground together so we can prepare for planting."
Everyone responded and picked up tools to begin leveling the land.
In no time, the fields were bustling with activity, everyone was full of energy, and they all wanted to turn this wasteland into a bountiful fertile field.
Once the land is leveled, it's time to sow the seeds.
"Brother Mu, when are you going to turn on the water?"
Li Mu glanced at Tian Xiaohu and laughed, "Don't rush, it's not too late to water us after we've sown all the seeds."
"I told you to bring all the fish from the fishpond here, where are the fish?"
"Oh, Brother Mu, look at my memory."
Tian Xiaohu slapped his forehead and said with an embarrassed smile, "I'll go and bring the fish over right away. Let's clean up the fishpond so we can raise fish in the future."
After saying that, Tian Xiaohu turned and left. A short while later, he drove his tricycle back to Lijia Village. The fish fry he had raised three months ago were now plump and healthy, jumping around.
Li Siming watched as the young men scooped the fish into the makeshift nets set up in the fishpond.
"What's going on here? Selling fish?"
"No, Brother Mu said to improve that land and use it for fish farming. We've been raising these fish fry for so long, and they're growing so well now, so we should make good use of them."
While catching fish, Tian Xiaohu explained to Li Siming.
Li Siming found this strange: "What does rice have to do with fish?"
Tian Xiaohu smiled and said, "Brother Mu said this is called rice-fish symbiosis. In the future, we will not only be able to grow high-yield rice in this field, but also raise plump fish."
"Really? Rice and fish can be raised together?" Li Siming was skeptical.
"Of course it's true. Brother Mu said that fish in the rice paddies can eat pests and weeds, loosen the soil, and their excrement can provide nutrients for the rice. In this way, we don't need to use pesticides or fertilizers, and the rice we grow will definitely be organic."
Tian Xiaohu explained in a very logical and thorough manner.
"Oh, now that you mention it, rice-fish symbiosis is actually quite good."
"Of course. Brother Mu said that once this rice-fish co-culture model is successful, we can expand the scale and help the villagers get rich together. Fourth Uncle, just think about it, if all the land in our village can be planted with this kind of rice and raised with this kind of fish, how many times will the income increase! At that time, we can also live the life of city dwellers."
Li Siming was completely confused. What was all this nonsense?
I've never seen or heard of it.
However, seeing Tian Xiaohu's confident demeanor, Li Siming couldn't help but feel skeptical. Could this rice-fish symbiosis really be so effective?
The news spread quickly in Lijia Village, and even reached Wangjia Village, which was several miles away.
Old Man Wang was an experienced farmer in Wangjia Village. When he heard about this, he scoffed.
"What the heck? Rice-fish co-culture? Has this Li Mu gone crazy from studying too much? Raising fish in rice paddies? That's ridiculous! I've been farming for decades and I've never heard of anything like it."
Wang Qiang, the son of Old Wang, listened from the side and was somewhat tempted.
"Dad, we've never seen this before. Maybe this rice-fish symbiosis really works. Why don't we go to Lijia Village and learn from their experience?"
Old Wang glared at his son: "What are you learning! Our Wang family village has been farming like this for generations. Do you think we're inferior to a mere kid? Don't be fooled by those fancy things!"
Wang Qiang was scolded by his father and dared not utter a word, but he was still itching to do the same.
A few days later, Wang Qiang couldn't contain his curiosity any longer, so he secretly went to Lijia Village to see what this rice-fish symbiosis was all about.
Just then, Li Mu and Tian Xiaohu caught the last of their fish and transported them to their contracted land.
"Brother Mu!"
Wang Qiang greeted everyone warmly, but his eyes were fixed on the lively fish.
Li Mu looked up and saw Wang Qiang. He smiled and asked, "Oh, it's Wang Qiang. What brings you here?"
Wang Qiang scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "I... I just came to check on things. Where are you all headed?"
"Oh, we just transported the fish to our contracted land, and we're getting ready to release them into the rice paddies. What are you doing?"
"I... I'm just curious and wanted to see what this rice-fish symbiosis is all about," Wang Qiang said honestly, his eyes never leaving the fish.
Li Mu laughed and said, "It's nothing, just trying to raise fish in the rice paddies to see if it can increase profits. Since you're here, let's take a look together."
As he spoke, Li Mu led Wang Qiang to the edge of the contracted land. The large paddy fields had been plowed and leveled, glistening with a moist sheen.
Tian Xiaohu was busy carefully pouring the fish fry from the net into the rice paddy. As soon as the fish fry entered the water, they happily scattered and swam away.
Old Wang had already led the experienced elder brother to the field to sow the rice seedlings. The palm-sized seedlings were neatly arranged on the ridges, a lush green expanse. The elder brother's technique was skillful; each seedling was planted perfectly, at the right depth, with even row spacing.
Wang Qiang was dumbfounded; he had never seen such a meticulous way of farming.
"This...this is rice-fish symbiosis?"
"That's right, it's rice-fish symbiosis."
"Look, we're releasing fish fry into the rice paddies. Doesn't it look amazing?"
Wang Qiang's doubts gradually dissipated, and he swallowed hard.