The next day, Liu Yifeng and Liu Chunsheng finished planting the remaining land.
There were some seeds left over, so Liu Yifeng simply scattered them in the yard. The sprouts could be eaten by the chicks, and it would be a waste to leave them.
While they were planting, Tong Tong was also busy making a growth stimulant. This substance was neither simple nor complex.
The raw materials needed were all provided by Liu Yifeng.
These included rice vinegar, aspirin, vitamin B12, and lime, among other things.
The raw materials were all easy to find. After dilution and combination with water, the growth stimulant was ready.
Although the process looked simple, the ratio requirements were extremely strict. Even a slight error would affect the final result.
Therefore, Tong Tong was very focused and serious during the preparation.
“Tong Tong, is the growth stimulant ready?” Liu Yifeng asked as he returned home from work and looked at the little figure sitting at the desk.
Tong Tong shook the cup in his hand, then dropped a white liquid from a test tube into the cup, followed by another gentle shake.
Only when he was satisfied did he place the cup on the table.
Liu Yifeng looked curiously at the liquid inside: “Tong Tong, is this the growth stimulant?”
“Yes, Daddy. Later, you can pour this growth stimulant into the sprayer, then add ten liters of cool boiled water to dilute it, and then you can spray it on the ground,” Tong Tong said to Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng picked up the transparent glass cup and stared at the relatively thick liquid inside. He studied it for a long time but couldn't figure anything out.
However, he trusted Tong Tong. Since he said the growth stimulant would work, it surely would.
“Tong Tong, then I’ll go boil water and let it cool. After dinner, I’ll go to the fields to spread the growth stimulant,” Liu Yifeng was eager to see the results.
He then boiled a large pot of hot water in the big pot and used buckets to cool it down.
After dinner, it was exactly six o’clock. The sun was about to set, but there was still a lingering glow, and the sky was still bright.
It was perfect to go to the fields at this time, as it wasn't too hot.
Liu Yifeng carried the pesticide sprayer on his back and went to the fields. Due to the large amount, he couldn’t finish it in one go. He had to spray, go back, refill, and then go back to the fields.
He did this back and forth several times until 8:30 PM, when Liu Yifeng finally sprayed all the fields with the growth stimulant.
Now, it was time for the growth stimulant to work its magic.
There were many mosquitoes in the countryside, especially at night. Liu Yifeng was covered in bites when he returned from the fields, feeling an unbearable itch.
“Are the medicines all spread?” Liu Chunsheng asked, looking at his son who had returned.
He had wanted to help, but Liu Yifeng stopped him, refusing to let him go no matter what.
Liu Yifeng knew his father had worked hard all day, so he naturally wouldn’t let him carry the heavy sprayer to spread the growth stimulant.
Putting down the equipment, Liu Yifeng scratched his back, then drank large gulps of well water before replying, “It’s all done. Tomorrow we’ll plant the watermelons, and then we’ll be mostly done.”
Originally, the land was plowed yesterday, and the watermelons should have been planted today, but they were limited by manpower.
As for Tong Tong making the growth stimulant, Liu Yifeng didn't mention it.
Whether this stuff would work was still unknown. It was better not to give his father too much hope, lest the disappointment be greater.
That night, Liu Yifeng slept very soundly, snoring like thunder, which woke up Tong Tong several times.
However, he also knew that his father was too tired, so he didn't wake him up.
He finally fell into a deep sleep around three or four in the morning.
In the early morning, Liu Yifeng looked at his son who was fast asleep and covered his stomach with a small blanket before tiptoeing out of bed.
He relieved himself in the bathroom and then washed up.
Just then, Liu Chunsheng came in from outside, incredibly excited, and shouted, “Yifeng, the seeds have all sprouted! This is too fast!”
Liu Yifeng, who was brushing his teeth, stopped his actions and looked at his father in disbelief: “Are… are you telling the truth?”
Although he knew that what he had spread yesterday was the growth stimulant developed by Tong Tong, he never expected it to sprout in just one night.
Under normal circumstances, sprouting in ten days would be considered fast.
He had initially thought it would be very satisfactory if it sprouted in a week.
Yet, in just one short night, it had sprouted.
How did Tong Tong develop such a growth stimulant? It was too miraculous!
“Look at you, do you think I would lie to you? They’ve indeed sprouted. What kind of medicine did you spray yesterday? It’s so effective,” Liu Chunsheng was so happy his mouth couldn’t stop smiling.
Liu Yifeng didn’t say anything. He quickly finished brushing his teeth, didn’t even have time to wash his face, and rushed to the fields.
He wouldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.
When he arrived at the fields, he was stunned.
Yesterday, the land had been full of soil, but today it was covered with tender sprouts, full of vitality.
After a long while, Liu Yifeng came back to his senses and burst into laughter.
At that moment, all he wanted to say was, “Who else?”
Who else could make their planted vegetables sprout in such a short period of time?
After confirming that all the vegetables had sprouted, Liu Yifeng hummed a tune and went home.
Along the way, he met many villagers, and they happily greeted him.
Everyone watched him acting like a happy idiot and found it inexplicable.
Back home, Liu Yifeng saw that Tong Tong was already awake and brushing his teeth in the yard. He excitedly hugged and kissed him: “Tong Tong, you are truly my good son, Daddy loves you to death.”
“What are you acting crazy for so early in the morning? Don’t scare the child,” Liu Chunsheng said, looking at his son’s frantic behavior, finding it inexplicable.
Liu Yifeng then let go of Tong Tong and said cheerfully, “Dad, just wait and enjoy your retirement!”
That day, Liu Yifeng and Liu Chunsheng took the watermelon seeds to the back mountain.
They worked hard for another whole day before planting all the watermelon seeds. Tong Tong also helped out sometimes.
During the break after lunch, Tong Tong developed more growth stimulant for the watermelon fields.
Vegetables and fruits were different categories, so the dosage would also vary.
However, all of this was under Tong Tong’s control.
Liu Yifeng helped out on the side. He hadn’t expected the preparation of the growth stimulant to be so troublesome, especially the precise control of the ratio. Any mistake would ruin all their previous efforts.
Therefore, he gave up the idea of helping and just handed things to Tong Tong.
Liu Yifeng wanted to spread the growth stimulant that evening, but Tong Tong stopped him.
“Tong Tong, isn’t it better to spread the growth stimulant on the ground early?” Liu Yifeng didn’t want to waste time; the sooner it was spread, the sooner the watermelons would grow.
Tong Tong explained, “Daddy, it’s going to rain heavily tonight. If you spread the growth stimulant on the watermelon field now, it will be washed away by the rain, and the watermelon seeds won’t be able to absorb it!”
Liu Yifeng glanced at the weather outside. It was as hot and humid as usual, with a few scattered stars in the sky. It didn’t look like it would rain heavily at all.
However, since Tong Tong said so, he didn’t say anything else.
After all, Tong Tong was no ordinary child.
In the village, there was a custom of visiting each other.
Especially at the village’s only small shop, many villagers would gather in the evening to chat about gossip.