An Baogen gave a pep talk to the commune members before the harvest began.

"All members, I have some good news to report: our brigade has purchased several new pieces of equipment this year!"

In previous years, the autumn harvest usually took a busy month and a half. This year, we're aiming to finish ten days earlier. Is everyone confident in completing the task?

All the members shouted in unison.

"I have confidence!"

"Alright, that's the spirit we've been looking for, let's start harvesting!"

As soon as An Baogen finished speaking, rows of soybean stalks were cut down in a flash.

First came the soybeans, then the corn, and then the rice.

Other crops, such as peanuts, sweet potatoes, and sesame, are harvested intermittently after these three main crops.

This autumn harvest, Zhuang Zhimeng had a task: to pick up fallen rice ears with the children.

Zhuang Zhimeng covered herself up very well, wearing long sleeves and pants, mainly because she was afraid of getting too tanned; she still liked to look beautiful.

Unexpectedly, An Qingsong was also covered up just as tightly as Zhuang Zhimeng, and people greeted him with smiles and questions.

"An Lao Er, aren't you hot? Wearing a straw hat is one thing, but why are you working in long sleeves and pants?"

You're becoming as delicate as your sister-in-law! It's one thing for a girl to be a little delicate, but you, a grown man, are being so pampered!

An Qingsong would often smile smugly at this time.

"Heh, you don't understand. I'm getting married right after the autumn harvest, so I can't get too tanned. What if people say I'm not good enough for my wife?"

An Qingsong's behavior left everyone speechless, and in the end, they were too lazy to ask him anymore; it was just his own fault for getting hot.

But An Qingsong provided plenty of laughs during the busy autumn harvest.

While picking up rice ears, Zhuang Zhimeng asked Hu Zi, who was standing next to her.

"Tiger, how's it going to school?"

"Sister Zhimeng, going to school is really interesting. I've made so many good friends there!"

"Teacher Lin teaches so well, I can understand everything! This is all thanks to Sister Zhimeng and everyone else who taught us to recognize characters and do arithmetic!"

"Okay, that's good. How are Bajin and Erdan doing?"

Tiger sighed.

"Sigh! Erdan is alright, he's made some friends. But I really don't know what to say about Bajin!"

"What did Bajin do?"

"He sleeps in class every day and doesn't pay attention! When we call on him to answer questions, he can't answer them!"

"Tiger, didn't you and Erdan try to persuade Bajin?"

"Why didn't we try to persuade him? He wouldn't listen to us!"

Zhuang Zhi dreamed of telling Hu Zi.

"Where is Bajin now? Huzi, call him over, I'll persuade him to give it a try!"

"Okay, Sister Zhimeng, I know where he is. I'll go find Bajin!"

Tiger found his way into the woods, where Bajin was hiding, picking and eating fruit.

"Bajin, Sister Zhimeng is looking for you. Come with me!"

Bajin even knew to share, handing two pieces of fruit to Huzi.

"Tiger, have some! This fruit is so sweet! I'll take some over to Sister Zhimeng too."

Tiger didn't mind, stuffing the fruit into his mouth and urging Eight Jin in a muffled voice.

"Let's hurry over there, don't keep Sister Zhimeng waiting, she'll be coming to find us soon!"

Ba Jin used his clothes to cover the fruit.

"Let's go then!"

Tiger brought Bajin to the spot where Zhuang Zhimeng was picking up rice ears.

"Sister Zhimeng, I've brought Bajin over!"

Zhuang Zhimeng straightened up and looked over.

Ba Jin walked up to Zhuang Zhimeng and showed her the fruit.

"Sister Zhimeng, the fruit I picked is so sweet, you should try some!"

Zhuang Zhimeng was first attracted by the fruit and recognized it as a blue honeysuckle fruit, which is known as the "longevity fruit"!

As Zhuang Zhimeng was thinking, Bajin handed her the fruit.

Zhuang Zhimeng realized what was happening and quickly thanked him.

"Thank you, Bajin. I'll just try this fruit."

It was indeed very sweet when I put it in my mouth.

"Delicious! Where were those eight pounds picked?"

Ba Jin pointed in the direction of the woods.

"There are many more by the edge of the woods!"

Seeing that Sister Zhimeng loved the fruit he had picked, Bajin opened his clothes and shared the fruit with Huzi and Sister Zhimeng, giving each of them one fruit.

Then continue dividing until all the fruit is distributed and each person receives ten pieces.

Zhuang Zhimeng took the opportunity to ask him.

"How many fruits did you pick in total, Bajin? And how many fruits did each of us get?"

Ba Jin held the remaining fruit in his clothes with one hand and scratched his head with the other.

"I...I don't know!"

While eating fruit, Zhuang Zhimeng asked Hu Zi a question.

"Tiger, can you tell Bajin?"

Tiger nodded.

"Not counting the two fruits you gave me before, there were a total of 31 fruits. After Sister Zhimeng ate one, the three of us each got ten fruits!"

"Eight catties, look at this fruit. If you don't know how many there are, and I tell you I'm short and then ask you for more, you won't know how many more to give me, right?"

What if it were money? If you're going to give me money, and I tell you it's not enough, do you know how much more money would be appropriate?

Ba Jin scratched his head again.

"I've never thought about that! I always thought arithmetic was useless, so I always felt sleepy in class!"

Zhuang Zhimeng clapped her hands after finishing the fruit.

"Arithmetic is still very useful. Think about it, at the very least, if someone gives you money in the future, you need to know how much it is. Otherwise, if someone just gives you a random number and cheats you, you won't even know it!"

Ba Jin mechanically bit into the fruit, nodding unconsciously.

"I understand, Sister Zhimeng, you're right. At the very least, I can't let anyone trick me. From now on, I'll start paying attention in class!"

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