There were more locusts in the paddy fields than on the mountains. Sometimes a single sweep of the net could catch several of them. In half an hour, each team had caught half a basket.
But the locusts in the fields seemed endless, still flying around everywhere. Everyone had to turn around and catch them again.
On such a hot day, the dense leaves of the rice paddies were like small knives, constantly cutting everyone's hands and feet.
When the insect nets went down, some nearly ripe rice stalks were also disturbed, which pained everyone.
But compared to being completely consumed by the locusts, everyone could only endure the hardship.
"Mother," He Xiaoya asked when she saw Li Yao return from the field, "How is it?"
"Not great. There are too many, we can't catch them all," Li Yao shook her head.
"What should we do then?"
He Xiaoya was more anxious than anyone else.
This year had been a good harvest, with plentiful grains grown after much hard work. Da Zhuang started working from before dawn until after dark every day.
It would be such a pity if it was all eaten by the locusts.
"Don't worry," Li Yao said. "I'll try my best to figure something out."
But Li Yao really didn't know how to deal with the locusts. She could only come up with feasible solutions based on the fragmented knowledge in her mind.
"We shouldn't idle at home either," Li Yao added. "It's very hot outside and they don't have time to cook. We'll take care of the meals these days."
"Okay."
Even in her postpartum confinement period, He Xiaoya was willing to help out.
So she asked Chun Ning to find the Village Head and called back several older village women to help cook cooling mung bean soup, pickled plums, and prepare meals.
Feeding over a thousand people required five hundred jin of rice per meal.
Fortunately, they had experience from preparing a wedding banquet during the move. With He Xiaoya about to become the new mistress of the family, she considered things from a different perspective and organized everything orderly.
After the food was prepared, they used carts to deliver it to the school, where there was ample space for everyone to eat in the shade.
Although the food was fragrant with plenty of meat, the mood remained despondent, and the meals tasted bland.
Seeing everyone, Wang Er was also extremely anxious.
He imagined if he were the Village Head, how would he face this disaster?
Before everyone finished lunch, Magistrate Song's carriage arrived.
Seeing that He Wan Village had already started disaster relief efforts organized so properly, Magistrate Song felt a rush of gratification. He knew this was certainly Li Yao’s contribution.
"Ms. Li," Magistrate Song brought a middle-aged man in a long robe. "I reported the situation to the Yizhou Prefecture overnight last night. Today, Prefect Li sent Private advisor Huang, who has experience dealing with locust plagues."
"Is that so?" Li Yao was overjoyed to hear an expert had arrived. "Please come inside."
"Greetings Ms. Li," he bowed.
"No need to stand on ceremony, Master Huang," Li Yao replied. "Please join us for a simple meal first, then we can discuss how to deal with the locust plague together."
Master Huang looked at the food on the table. They were not exquisite dishes, so he did not have much appetite.
After all, he was the private advisor to the prefect's family and had come from the capital. How could he eat from the same pot as these country bumpkins?
"No need to trouble yourself, Ms. Li. I'm only here to assess the situation and still need to visit other villages," Master Huang said. "I'll pass on the food."
Hearing this, it put Magistrate Song in an awkward spot.
He had intended to eat with the villagers first then urgently discuss pest control measures. But now that Master Huang refused to eat, he could only accompany him on an empty stomach.
"Then let's go take a look at the fields."
Led by Wang Jiafu, the group went to the paddy fields.
With his experience dealing with locust plagues, Master Huang sized up the situation and immediately had an answer.
"It's no bother."
Wang Jiafu was puzzled and quickly asked, "Master Huang, there are already so many locusts, yet it's no bother?"
"That's right," Master Huang smiled. "A true locust plague will have locusts of all sizes emerging together. But as you can see here, there are only small ones in this field. Why is that?"
"Because..." Wang Jiafu racked his brains to think, then replied, "The big ones have already died of old age?"
"Haha, you seem to understand a little." Master Huang said, "The old locusts are dead, so they cannot produce more young locusts. By the time these small ones grow big enough to reproduce, the rice would have already been harvested and the weather cooled. Nature will take care of them. As for these tiny bugs now, they can't eat much. If you're worried, just let your chickens and ducks out, they'll be eaten clean in three days. "
Everyone looked at each other, surprised that all the hurried work amounted to a false alarm.
Wang Jiafu finally felt relieved, like a weight had been lifted: "Since Master Huang says so, we can rest assured."
Just as everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Wang Er looked towards Li Yao, seeming to have something to add.
Li Yao nodded imperceptibly, signaling him to speak up.
"Magistrate Song, Master Huang," Wang Er stepped forward with a bow. "I have a different view."
Seeing it was Wang Er, Magistrate Song smiled and asked, "Aren't you a scholar? How would you know about farm work?"
"Having grown up in a farming family, I picked up a thing or two over the years."
"What is your view then?"
"While the lack of old locusts means they may have died," Wang Er said, "the old locusts would have laid eggs in the soil, able to survive the winter. When I was little, I dug up many locust eggs while playing in the fields with my eldest brother. So I think it's very likely there are still large amounts of locust eggs unhatched."
Seeing a country scholar daring to contradict him, Master Huang's face soured.
He coldly said, "Even if they hatch now, by the time they grow big enough to eat leaves, it would already be fall!"
"No, locusts only need five days after hatching to molt, and can lay eggs in less than a month," Wang Er continued. "If there are still large amounts of eggs hatching, or about to hatch, there will certainly be a locust plague within half a month."
"What basis do you have for saying this?"
"It's what my late father taught me."
"And who was your father?"
"A lifelong He Wan villager."
"I thought he was some impressive figure." Master Huang sneered, "As I said, I, Huang, have personally experienced three major locust plagues. I've seen more locusts than you've eaten bowls of rice. So I stand by my earlier statement - don't speak of ice to summer bugs. You can choose to believe me or figure it out yourselves."
Everyone groaned inwardly, the Master seemed offended.