Before transplanting the rice seedlings, Old Zhou's family had already scattered wheat and bean seeds in the fields. After the transplanting was completed, the wheat and bean sprouts had emerged, along with countless wild weeds.
Thus, spring labor entered its second phase—weeding.
This task was suitable for men and women, young and old, and even Manbao followed along to weed in the fields closest to home.
There were basically two methods of weeding: one was extensive, and the other, meticulous.
For the former, wielding a hoe, one would lightly hoe through the field, uprooting the weeds along the ridges and covering the weeds in the furrows with soil.
Not only could some weeds be removed, but this also provided more soil nutrients for the wheat or bean sprouts.
The latter method involved using a small hoe to thoroughly remove all the weeds from the furrows and ridges, and then transport them out of the field.
