176: Chapter 176 Wheat Doubles by Thirteen Tons! Pigs Eat Flour, People Are Jealous

At nine o'clock in the morning, in the third-floor Dome Greenhouse, the ears of the second crop of Fast-growing Wheat hung heavy, bending the stalks. The density alone showed it was much thicker than the first crop.

The planting area had expanded to seventy-two percent, with nearly one-third more Hydroponic Racks than the first crop.

Lin Wan stood before the first set of Hydroponic Racks, a sickle gripped firmly in her hand.

Song Ya was over by the sixth set, waiting for the signal.

"Start."

As the sickle cut across, the sound of the first stalk of Fast-growing Wheat falling was exactly the same as the first crop—a light rustling sound, carrying the weight of golden ears as they fell into her palm.

She placed the wheat ears into the collection basket and continued.

Behind her, nineteen Agricultural Technicians followed her rhythm, and the orderly sound of harvesting echoed through the greenhouse once more.

At eleven-thirty in the morning, Song Ya's voice came through the communicator.

"Lin Wan, groups six through ten are finished. The estimated dry weight is 7.1 tons, which is basically consistent with our upper estimate of thirteen tons."

"Groups one through five have twenty minutes left."

Lin Wan continued harvesting the wheat without looking up. "Estimated at 6.1 tons, for a total of 13.2 tons."

Lu Chen's voice came through the communicator: "Lin Wan, 13.2 tons."

"Yes, it has doubled compared to the first crop."

"How many days is that enough for thirty thousand people?"

"Based on a calculation of three hundred grams of staple food per person per day, thirteen tons is enough for thirty thousand people for about a day and a half. However, when combined with protein from the Livestock Farm and water from the Atmospheric Extraction Tower, it can last much longer as a staple supply. After all, we can't rely solely on flour."

"What is the total flour inventory now, including the first crop?"

Lin Wan ran the numbers through her head. "The first crop yielded 3.8 tons of flour, nearly two tons of which have been distributed, leaving 1.8 tons in stock. After the second crop is milled, it can yield another 8.5 tons or so, bringing the total inventory to 10.3 tons."

"How many days will 10.3 tons last for six thousand five hundred people?"

"Five days, based on a standard of two bowls per person per day."

"And for thirty thousand people?"

"A day and a half," Lin Wan paused. "But the third crop is only seven days away. Once we reach full production, it will be eighteen to twenty tons. That's when we'll truly enter a state of stable supply."

"Understood. Arrange for the milling."

"Threshing starts this afternoon, and we'll mill tomorrow; I'll switch the Synthesizer back to grinding mode. The first batch of flour will be ready the day after tomorrow, estimated at nine hundred kilograms. We can continue distribution to the Residential Area, this time at three bowls per person."

"Three bowls per person?"

"The first crop was two bowls. Since the second crop's yield has doubled, three bowls per person is reasonable."

"Confirm the distribution sequence with Chen Li, then execute it."

"Alright."

"One more thing." Lu Chen's voice paused for a beat. "After today's distribution is over, send thirty kilograms of flour to Liao Dacheng's side. Let him give the nursing sows some nutritional supplements."

The sickle in Lin Wan's hand stopped. "Send it to the Livestock Farm?"

"ZM-06 gave birth to ten piglets yesterday, and the lactation period is physically demanding. Liao Dacheng requested a supplement of concentrated feed for the pregnant and nursing sows this morning. I approved it, and while we're at it, send thirty kilograms of flour over as well."

"How should the flour be used?"

"Let Liao Dacheng decide; he's the Veterinarian."

"Alright."

The communicator disconnected.

Lin Wan raised her sickle again and cut across the next wheat stalk.

Song Ya's voice came from a distance: "Lin Wan, the City Lord is sending flour to the pigs?"

"Thirty kilograms."

"That's more noodles than I ate in my entire first month."

"The pigs are giving birth to piglets."

"I can give birth too," Song Ya said, her voice rising playfully.

Lin Wan didn't respond. She placed the wheat ear in her hand into the collection basket and bent down to harvest the next one.

The Full-spectrum LED Lights in the greenhouse illuminated the golden wheat ears until they were translucent, their individual grains clearly defined under the light.

At 11:53 AM, the harvest was fully completed.

Lin Wan stood before the last row of emptied Hydroponic Racks, placed the final basket of wheat ears onto the Air-drying Rack, and pressed the communicator toward the cockpit: "City Lord, the second crop harvest is complete. The total dry weight is 13 tons and 400 kilograms, which is 200 kilograms higher than estimated."

"Good."

"One more thing."

"Speak."

"Regarding the third crop's planting," Lin Wan opened her Planting Log. "After threshing is finished this afternoon, the Hydroponic Racks in groups one to five can be disinfected and cleaned tonight, and planting can begin tomorrow morning. Groups six to ten will be disinfected the day after tomorrow, with planting tomorrow."

"The planting area?"

"This time it will expand to eighty-five percent, which is close to full production levels. The expected yield is seventeen to eighteen tons."

"When will the third crop be harvested?"

"Day 64."

"Seven days."

"Yes, seven days starting from today."

The other end of the communicator was silent for a few seconds before Lu Chen's voice came through: "Lin Wan."

"I'm here."

"Before milling begins tonight, process a batch of the threshed stalks and send them to the Livestock Farm. The piglets need new bedding."

"Alright, I'll coordinate with Liao Dacheng."

"Also," he paused for a beat, "are the first batch of Strawberries red yet?"

Lin Wan walked toward the special hydroponic area in the corner of the greenhouse reserved for the A-grade Cream Strawberries.

The Strawberries were turning red evenly under the lights. The bottoms were completely red, and the middle sections were two-thirds colored. The tops still had a bit of pale white, but they were much darker than a few days ago.

"They aren't completely red yet; the tops still need a bit more time. I estimate this batch can be picked between the day after tomorrow and the day after that."

"The day after tomorrow."

"Yes, at the earliest. I'll keep an eye on them and notify you as soon as they're ripe."

"Good."

The communicator disconnected.

Lin Wan stood before the Strawberry rack, looking at the bright red fruit.

She had planted this batch of Cream Strawberries on Day 15. From a single seed to the nearly ripe fruit they were now, they had undergone countless adjustments to nutrient solution concentration, temperature control, and pollination records.

She reached out and squeezed one of the plumpest Strawberries; it had excellent elasticity and firm flesh, not soft at all, indicating that the sugar accumulation was normal.

She withdrew her hand.

The day after tomorrow.

She noted the date in her mind.