Li Xiangdong used a wooden stick to write the three characters "Shazanggua" on the ground.

Then he said, "The book says that watermelons should be picked when they are eight or nine tenths ripe. At this time, the watermelon is almost ripe, which can ensure the taste and is also conducive to storage."

"To extend the storage period and prevent the watermelons from cracking, they cannot be watered for seven or eight days before harvesting."

Li Jinshan said, "We meet this condition. The fields haven't been watered for eight or nine days because we're harvesting corn."

Li Xiangdong nodded, "You can't pick watermelons while they're wet, because they'll rot easily if they get wet. Either wait until the sun comes out in the morning and the dew dries up, or wait until the sun is about to set."

Guo Haiguang thought to himself, "Brother Jinshan and I have inspected all of these 1,000 mu of land. About one-tenth of the melons are eight or nine-tenths ripe. Apart from those that have already been sold, we need to pick them quickly. If the melons are too ripe, they will rot in the ground."

Li Jinshan was a little worried, "We need to pick corn and watermelons, but we don't have enough manpower!"

After weighing the pros and cons, Li Xiangdong said, "We should pick the watermelons first. Firstly, watermelons sell for more money, and secondly, the corn won't spoil if it stays in the field a little longer."

Guo Haiguang then asked, "How can we store them until the Chinese New Year?"

That's the most important thing.

"Find a few cool, well-ventilated, and clean rooms, spray these rooms with quicklime water at a concentration of 2% to 3%, then spread a layer of fine river sand 7 to 10 centimeters thick on the ground, place the watermelon on top, and then cover the watermelon with a layer of river sand 3 to 5 centimeters thick."

"When using sand-stored watermelons, each watermelon should have 2 to 3 vine nodes left and 2 to 3 green leaves retained. The wounds on the vine nodes should be sealed tightly with wood ash to disinfect and sterilize. Afterward, the leaves should be sprayed with potassium dihydrogen phosphate for disinfection every ten days."

"If stored properly, it can last for two to three months without spoiling."

Li Jinshan and Guo Haiguang nodded repeatedly after hearing this, "That's great!"

"Another method of storage is to treat the watermelon vines with juice and then store them."

The two of them stared at him expectantly. They understood the principle of storing melons in sand; it was the same as digging a hole in the ground and burying radishes in soil.

But what's with using watermelon vine juice to treat it?

Before the two could ask, Li Xiangdong said directly, "When harvesting watermelons, leave 7 to 10 centimeters of watermelon vine. Also, disinfect the wounds with wood ash."

"Grind fresh watermelon vines into juice, filter it, dilute it with 300 to 500 times with cold boiled water, spray it on the entire surface of the watermelon, let it air dry, wrap the watermelon in newspaper, seal both ends of the paper roll, and then put it in a cool and ventilated room."

"The advantage of storing it this way is that it is non-toxic and pollution-free, ensuring that the watermelon is a purely organic food. However, it cannot be stored for long, only a month or two."

"Are there any other methods?"

"These are the only two makeshift methods we have for now."

Li Xiangdong greatly misses the cold storage and cold chain logistics of later generations and plans to build one sometime in the future.

Guo Haiguang said, "Okay! These two are enough. You young people are so smart! We'll go find the brigade leader and discuss storing the watermelons!"

The two men, both in their sixties, walked with a brisk pace, full of energy!

......

Around noon, Guo Yuxi and Zhao Xiaojun arrived at Li Jin's house in a large Yan brand truck.

Guo Yuxi and Zhao Xiaojun were very dissatisfied because Li Xiangdong did not take them to Yanjing. In order to make up for the emotional hurt they suffered, Li Xiangdong entrusted them with the important task of picking up the purchasing vehicles of Yanjing Department Store.

The two were very conscientious and stayed at the village entrance from early morning. When they saw a large green truck coming from afar, they immediately ran up to it and offered to lead the way for the driver.

Zhao Xiaojun called Li Xiangdong out of the house, and Li Xiangdong first offered the driver a cigarette.

The driver, surnamed Yu, was in his fifties and looked very honest. He spoke with a thick Beijing accent, saying, "Young man, go pick up the watermelons. I have to get back to Beijing tonight, don't waste time!"

Without further ado, Li Xiangdong instructed Guo Yuxi to continue meeting the drivers from Yong'an Department Store at the village entrance, while Zhao Xiaojun went to Dabaodi to call Li Jin. He and Master Yu then loaded the two thousand catties of cured meat onto the truck.

When Li Xiangdong arrived by car, Li Jin and the others were already waiting at the edge of the field with a weighing scale.

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Changhai immediately opened a large watermelon for Master Yu to quench his thirst, and then organized people to weigh the watermelon and load it onto a large truck.

Master Yu finished the melon in a few bites, jumped onto the carriage, and helped put the melons down, saying, "Handle them gently! Don't break them!"

Once the watermelon is on the truck, it belongs to the Yanjing Department Store. We should try to minimize waste!

The final weight was 2032 jin (approximately 1056 catties).

Li Xiangdong quietly told Master Yu, "The four extra watermelons are for you and Manager Wan."

Master Yu nodded knowingly, quite satisfied with his approach. He readily signed the three-part form, tore off one page, and handed it back to the accountant. Li Xiangdong could then take the stub to the cashier to settle the accounts and collect his money.

After seeing Master Yu off, Li Xiangdong handed over the stub and the carbon copy to Wang Zhenbo for safekeeping.

It was said that the accounts would be settled monthly, and at the end of the month, the brigade accountant, Wang Zhenbo, would also be there to settle the accounts.

Next up was Mr. Li from Yong'an Department Store. Mr. Li was wearing bell-bottoms, had long hair down to his neck, and had the air of a rock youth. He looked unapproachable.

To their surprise, they found the person to be quite nice; he didn't ask for anything or make things difficult for them, and they were able to easily take away the two thousand kilograms of watermelons.

Li Xiangdong did not show favoritism and gave him four extra large watermelons as well.

After all that fuss, it was already 2 PM, and no one had eaten lunch yet.

Li Jin called to the onlookers, "Hurry back and cook and eat. This afternoon, make the most of your time to pick corn and watermelons! There's plenty of work to do, don't just sit around and watch!"

The crowd dispersed with laughter, each returning home.

With 1,600 yuan coming in every day, the entire Lijiapo brigade was filled with joy, and many families were using pure white flour for their lunch.

Many people say that old farmers are stingy and unwilling to spend money.

Actually, who wouldn't want to spend money if they had it?

Just like today, although the 1,600 yuan didn't immediately reach them, they knew that the work points at the end of the year would be more valuable, so they were willing to use white flour to reward the laborers in their families, rather than saving it up and worrying about going hungry later!

With better expectations, the farmers are also happy to enjoy a better quality of life.

Those in the surrounding villages with good connections found out that night that watermelons from Lijiapo were being sold for money.

As I ate dinner, looking at the sorghum pancake in my hand, a wave of bitterness welled up inside me!

Leaving aside how many extra kilograms of corn the other people harvested, how did they manage to make a double profit from this?

A plot of land planted with both corn and watermelons made over 1600 yuan in just one day!