Chapter 47: Gosling Well

Chapter 47

"Mother, how much longer do we have to wait?" Inside the incubation room, He Xiaoya anxiously looked at the goose eggs that showed no sign of hatching.

"Don't be impatient. They'll come out when the time is right."

The two waited another half hour in front of the incubator, when one of the goose eggs suddenly moved a little.

"It moved! Is it going to hatch soon?"

"It should be."

"The egg shell is so thick. What if the gosling can't peck through it?" He Xiaoya asked worriedly.

"That's unlikely. Don't underestimate them."

Li Yao hadn't actually seen goslings hatching, but she believed in science. In nature, so many species of birds hatched by pecking through the egg shell themselves.

If any were really underdeveloped and couldn't break through, they could lend a hand later. It wouldn't be too late.

Soon after, the first gosling finally pecked a small hole in the egg shell, then slowly pecked away at the surrounding shell, poking out a complete little head.

An hour later, the vast majority of goslings had successfully hatched.

Once dry, they were fluffy feathered. Seeing these cute little goslings, He Xiaoya felt her heart melting.

But even more was her admiration for Li Yao.

Without a mother hen, relying only on a few small oil lamps, she could hatch goslings. No one else in the world had such skills.

The few that couldn't hatch themselves, He Xiaoya helped crack the shells, and they crawled out successfully too.

But these were noticeably smaller, and it was unknown whether they could survive.

"Raise these separately for now," said Li Yao, "and mix them with the others when they grow up some."

"Okay." He Xiaoya nodded, looking at the unhatched eggs somewhat regretfully, "It's a pity these few didn't make it."

"Survival of the fittest is normal," said Li Yao. "Did you count how many hatched?"

"A total of 121."

Out of 200 eggs, 121 goslings hatched.

Under these conditions, the hatch rate was quite good.

And with the experience from the first try, future hatch rates would improve.

Newly hatched goslings couldn't eat grass, but were first fed egg yolks for two days, then soft cooked rice mixed with fine bran or wheat bran.

After a week they could be fed boiled rice or wheat.

Fortunately the goslings didn't have huge appetites, otherwise feeding so many would eat the family poor.

Under He Xiaoya's attentive care, the goslings grew very well, lively and energetic. Wang Xiao Si also brought back good news from the dry well.

To show thanks to Li Yao, everyone decided unanimously that her family would use the water first.

Da Zhuang had already leveled the ground and sown the wheat seeds and fertilizer, and eagerly climbed onto the waterwheel.

Wang Jia Gui, Wang Dingyuan, and Wang Yuancai, the eldest son of the village head's family, also came to help. The four men worked the waterwheel together.

Gurgle gurgle...

As the waterwheel turned, clear well water was quickly brought up and flowed down the irrigation channel towards the fields.

Seeing the parched earth turn moist, continuously bubbling, the villagers were deeply moved.

With this well, they could have a wheat harvest next year. No one needed to think about fleeing famine!

Being able to live and work in one place, who wanted to leave their home and well behind?

"Li Yao, mention anything you need help with in the future, we'll all come lend a hand."

"Why state the obvious?" someone laughed. "Aren't they building a new house? We'll all send one person from each family to get it done for them quickly!"

"Right, that's a good idea, let's go tomorrow!"

Seeing the beaming smiles and changed attitudes of the villagers towards her, Li Yao felt somewhat strange for reasons she couldn't pinpoint. She had never experienced such a scene growing up.

Although not accustomed to it, she didn't feel averse either.

"Mother," He Xiaoya stood on the ridge, eagerly looking at the just-planted earth, her eyes full of expectation for the future. "Next year we'll definitely have a good harvest, right?"

Li Yao nodded.

Having a good harvest was probably the greatest expectation of people in this era.

"Hurry home, there's a strong wind outside."

Packing away the feelings from her maiden name, Li Yao quickly headed home.

......

"Sir!"

"I have great news!"

Hearing Wang Jiafu's voice, magistrate Song frowned.

This old village head was usually very steady. Why was he so impetuous today, his voice preceding his person?

"Come in, what is it?"

"Wonderful news, sir!" Wang Jiafu, disregarding etiquette, rushed in breathlessly. "We've planted all our crops in the village!"

"What?"

Magistrate Song shot up, forgetting the dignity of a county magistrate. "Speak! What happened?"