Kernel modules?

I want to use my Mars for a project that needs a USB serial device connected. Trying to figure out why the device wasn’t creating a /dev/tty port, I saw it needs some kernel modules including ftdi_sio. I’m running the official OS and the kernel does not include this module, indeed the lsmod command shows no modules at all. So I am hesitant about trying to compile and install the modules I need – does the kernel support modules at all? Will I have to recompile the whole kernel witth the functionality I want built-in? Maybe better to try installing DietPi OS instead? Any help much appreciated.

Update: I installed the DietPi OS for VisionFive 2, and everything works including my USB serial device – but the graphics are unusably slow. I’m guessing the Mars uses a different GPU or something.