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He Jingyu cleared his throat and said, "This peach tree takes three years to bear fruit. It's juicy, tender, and has a high yield. On its first fruiting year, each tree is estimated to produce about 40 jin (20 kg), which is about 60 to 70 peaches. Next year, the yield is expected to double, reaching 200 to 300 jin (100 to 150 kg) or even more at peak ripeness."

"These peaches taste great, the best we've ever had. But as you know, peaches don't keep well. If you pick them before they're ripe, it affects the flavor; but when they're ripe, they're soft and taste amazing, but they don't keep well!" Secretary Ma hit the nail on the head, pointing out the key problem of peaches not keeping well.

No matter how good something is, it's useless if you can't get it out of the country!

He Jingyu smiled and said, "The firm peaches you just ate were freshly picked from the tree. The soft peaches have been picked for ten days and will gradually soften. Roughly speaking, they won't soften for at least a week. As long as the roads are good and the packaging is done well to prevent the peaches from bumping into each other, there won't be any problem transporting them all over the country."

Upon hearing this, everyone realized that a week was indeed enough to ship the goods all over the country.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Secretary Ma said repeatedly. "So, what's the situation in Taoyuan now? Can you take us to see it?"

"Secretary Ma, lunch is almost ready. Peach Garden is located halfway up the mountain, which is a bit far," Qi Dazhu said. "Let's eat first, then we'll go."

I was traveling early in the morning and was indeed hungry.

"Okay, let's eat first, then we'll go," Secretary Ma said, then instructed the office director to handle the follow-up work.

The office director gave each of the city leaders half a jin of meal tickets and 50 cents per person as payment for their meals.

Qi Dazhu declined at first, but accepted it after the director's repeated persuasion.

At least with this money, we can make up for what we ate at noon.

Seeing that Brother Dazhu was talking to the leaders, Qi Shuliang pulled He Jingyu to sit down to the side.

"Hello, sworn brother, thank you for taking care of my mother." Qi Shuliang thanked her softly. Before, when he was in the United States, he often heard his mother talk about He Jingyu, and knew that he was a good person.

Qi Shuliang was very grateful to everyone who had been kind to his mother.

He Jingyu smiled and said, "No need to be so polite, sworn brother. My godmother has been very good to our family too."

"There are too many people around now, so it's not convenient to talk. Let's have a good talk when we get back tonight," Qi Shuliang said. With so many people around, they couldn't keep talking quietly.

"Yes, we can talk about it when we get home," He Jingyu said. This sworn brother was a straightforward person, and his godmother would have many happy days ahead of her!

The village branch only had one large table, so Zhao Dajiao borrowed two more tables from the villagers, making it just enough to seat three tables and more than twenty people.

At this time, while entertaining leaders cannot be casual, there aren't many formalities either.

The villagers have already given their best, and everyone is very satisfied.

Two white steamed buns per person, two meat and two vegetable buns.

Because Secretary Ma was thinking about Taoyuan, he ate quickly.

Since the leader was in such a hurry, the others weren't oblivious and quickly started eating.

After Secretary Ma finished eating, everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks.

After the meal, Secretary Ma looked at Qi Shuliang and said, "Mr. Qi, you must be tired from your journey. Please go back and rest. Once you've decided on the date for the ancestral worship, Comrade Qi will let us know. We'll then commemorate Mr. Qi together. What do you think?"

Secretary Ma's words were tactful, but everyone understood the implication.

Ancestor worship is not something that can be done casually; a date must be chosen. However, due to the current campaign to destroy the Four Olds, a fixed date has to be set.

"Thank you for your hard work, Secretary Ma," Qi Shuliang said. "I'm fine, not too tired. I'll go with you to see what kind of environment can produce such delicious peaches."

This wasn't a secret, and Secretary Ma readily agreed, saying, "If Mr. Qi isn't tired, then come with us to take a look. Mr. Qi is a man of the world, so please give us your opinions."

"No, no, Secretary Ma, please!" Qi Shuliang said modestly. He grew up in China and only went abroad as an adult, so he was somewhat familiar with the bureaucratic habits in China.

Although officials today are more honest than before, some of their ingrained habits from thousands of years ago have not changed.

Although he was a distinguished guest of the authorities, he did not intend to offend these officials in a presumptuous manner.

These people can't do anything to him, but there are still many fellow villagers here!

Led by Qi Dazhu and He Jingyu, the group went to Taoyuan.

The current leaders are in good physical condition. Even if they climb halfway up the mountain, at most a few of them will have shortness of breath, but none of them will be unable to walk or climb any further.

Large, pale yellow peaches with pink blushes hung on the tree.

The peach orchard is surrounded by a fence, and the peaches look very healthy, clearly indicating that they have been well taken care of.

A wooden house on the side blends in with the entire peach orchard.

“Good, in this way, without occupying farmland, we can increase our income considerably by utilizing the mountainous terrain,” Secretary Ma said, looking at County Chief Niu. Qi Dazhu was very pleased, “This time, your Taoyuan County and Qijia Village have both made great contributions.”

"I dare not accept such praise. It is all in response to the call of the city leaders," said County Chief Niu. "Our Taoyuan County has many mountains and little land, so we should change our thinking, accept the instructions of the leaders, and make some achievements to benefit the people."

“Well said,” Secretary Ma said. “We have little land and our grain yield is not high, so we can grow other crops and exchange them with the neighboring major grain-producing provinces. That way we can get a lot of grain!”

Everyone thought the same thing; those who supported this work in the beginning deserve credit.

Secretary Ma was very pleased to see the peach orchard.

Secretary Ma is no ordinary official; he thinks more deeply about issues. Huai City has many mountains and little arable land, resulting in low average grain yields, which is why higher-ups hoped that Huai City in Ontario would make some changes.

Huai City accepted the task from the province and achieved results, which is his political achievement!

"County Chief Niu, Secretary Qi, you should pick the peaches tomorrow and send them to the purchasing station in the county town. Expert He, thank you for your hard work. Please write a summary report so we can send it to the province together."

"Yes, Secretary Ma," County Chief Niu said happily. He wanted to try his best to get a good price for Qijia Village and also mention the road construction project.

He Jingyu also said, "I've already written most of the report. I'll finish it today and send it over with Taozi."

Once the report is written, his work is mostly done, and he can start large-scale planting again next year.

Fortunately, we had the foresight to cultivate seedlings last year, and they have now grown into one-year-old peach saplings.

"Thank you for your hard work, Expert He," Secretary Ma said, feeling excited. He hoped that if he could gain another merit while the Qi Shuliang incident was gaining momentum, he could perhaps advance even further.

"It's no trouble at all, it's what I should do," He Jingyu said modestly.

The leaders had taken a stroll around Taoyuan, and it was already 2:30 in the afternoon. It was time for them to head down the mountain; they needed to go back.

After seeing off these leaders, only the villagers of Qijia Village remained.

******

The contradictory Orange, in "Cannon Fodder Operation," is tricked into marriage, becomes a mistress, is used by her closest relatives, and has her entire family implicated by her beloved... Faced with the unfortunate experiences of her clients, Tong Xinlan will make the villains pay a heavy price.

(To be continued.)