Chapter 94 The south tea is moved north. Yingshan doesn't belong to her; it's impossible for her to do whatever she wants...

The "South Tea Northward Migration" plan has actually been underway for some years. It is an agricultural project aimed at reducing dependence on southern production areas and ensuring the supply of materials. It represents an agricultural policy orientation of "declaring war on nature" and explores tea tree cultivation techniques in high-latitude, cold regions to enrich the agricultural economic structure.

After several years of introduction trials, overcoming technical bottlenecks such as frost damage, and improving cultivation techniques, small-scale trial planting has been successful, and it is now entering the stage of planned promotion.

Liuzhang Commune is also within the planned latitude range suitable for planting. Director Ding hopes to respond to the national call and make the commune's production teams one of the pilot areas.

"Support policies, financial support, technical guidance... none of these will be lacking," Director Ding looked expectantly at the team leaders of each production team. "Our region has natural planting advantages, with high mountains and abundant water, making it perfect for transplanting tea trees."

The name "Zhang" means layered mountains. As the name suggests, Liuzhang Town is a mountainous area, and the several production teams under the commune are basically all located next to the mountains.

Panpokou is named for its location at the mouth of a mountain slope; Zhoujiawowo Production Brigade is next to a Black Donkey Mountain that resembles a reclining donkey; Meijie Ridge is located on the boundary of Shenjiagou Production Brigade; Yuqianwa is named after Yuqian Mountain and Huwa; Liwangou, "Li" refers to a large rock standing on the mountain, so the village is located in a valley surrounded by several low mountains; Tonggan Production Brigade is backed by Yingshan Mountain and is the source of Ganlin River.

“We don’t need to use arable land. Our plan is to build tea gardens on the sunny slopes of the mountains. This way, we can make use of the terrain features without interfering with the previous traditional planting methods.” Yao, the head of the agricultural group, said with great enthusiasm. Any one of the production teams could be chosen as a pilot project for tea planting.

However, the reactions of the production team leaders were lukewarm.

Under the prevailing ideology of "grain as the mainstay," growing tea trees can only be considered a sideline.

Panpokou Production Brigade has its own brick factory, and its sideline business is booming; in Zhoujiawowo Production Brigade, every household raises pigs, and they spend all their spare time taking care of the pigs, so they don't have the energy to plant tea trees; Captain Nie of Yuqianwa also doesn't want to take on this job, as their production team also has its own sideline business of fish farming.

The two team leaders from Shenjiagou and Liwangou didn't want to plant any tea trees. After all, tea leaves can't be eaten as food. They thought it would be better to use their energy to cultivate a few more acres of wasteland and grow more grain.

Zhong Ying remained silent, appearing deep in thought.

She wouldn't differentiate between the value of grain and tea. While tea was indeed comparable to candy when the national standard of living was not high—"it's okay to have it or not"—she believes that as the economy continues to improve, the economic benefits of tea will also increase.

The Tonggan production team has not yet developed its own sideline business. If a tea garden of a certain scale can be built, it will bring long-term economic benefits, just like a hydroelectric power station.

Although growing grain is currently considered the "kingly way" to ensure people have enough to eat and escape poverty, looking to the future, rural areas will rely on sideline businesses to become wealthy, such as the famous strawberries from a certain place, the aged vinegar from another place, and several well-known tea brands that have been established as their signature products.

Zhong Yingchang imagined that "Yingshan Tea" would be on the shelves of major supermarkets in the future.

But soon, the corners of her lips, which had involuntarily turned up, suddenly fell back down.

There was no use in thinking about it; a very objective factor stood in her way like a roadblock—Yingshan wasn't hers, and she couldn't do whatever she wanted with it.

Although Tonggan Production Team is located at the foot of Yingshan Mountain, it has always kept to itself for decades, like two neighbors in the 21st century living their own lives behind closed doors. People rarely go into the mountains, and wild animals from the mountains do not come down to disturb people's lives.

However, building a tea plantation would disrupt this delicate balance of non-interference.

Zhong Ying was secretly troubled.

Director Ding was somewhat disappointed to see that none of the production team leaders were willing to step forward, and even his most promising young talent, Zhong Ying, remained silent. However, he then thought that planting tea was no small matter and required careful consideration. To agree immediately would be rash.

"It's alright, everyone go back and think it over. Let's adjourn the meeting for today."

After returning to the Tonggan production team, Zhong Ying ate a simple meal and then strolled through the village to the foot of Ying Mountain.

In August, Yingshan Mountain is lush and green. At this time of year, various wild fruits ripen in the mountains, creating a beautiful landscape. There is also a hot spring. If a tea garden is built, and transportation becomes more convenient in the future, it could even be developed into a farm stay, where visitors can experience tea picking, tea processing, and hot spring bathing...

Zhong Ying looked up at the mountain in front of her and the more she looked, the more she felt that the mountain was not green, but golden.

"I wish this mountain were mine," Zhong Ying murmured, expressing her true feelings.

Not long after, a tiger's roar, as if in response, came from the mountain. Zhong Ying was startled and immediately stopped coveting the "gold mountain" and hurried home.

However, once the idea took hold, it was not so easy to give up. In the following days, whenever Zhong Ying had a moment of free time, she couldn't help but think about it.

Seeing that she was lost in thought again, Li Linshi asked, "What are you thinking about?"

It must be about the south-to-north tea relocation project, Li Linshi guessed. Although he hadn't seen the future, he could sense that it was an opportunity, but implementing it would be difficult.

Zhong Ying rested her chin on her hand and turned to look at him. "I was thinking about Wu Song."

Can this ghost be a tiger-slaying hero?

Li Linshi received an unexpected answer and was momentarily stunned.

Zhong Ying didn't explain, but just turned back to continue staring blankly.

That probably won't work.

When she went to the mountains to find wood to make memorial tablets for Li Linshi and Li Changgui, she encountered the white tiger on Ying Mountain. Although it was three years ago, Zhong Ying still remembered it vividly. The overwhelming sense of oppression was just like its nickname "Mountain Lord". The white tiger seemed to have a natural aura that could intimidate all things.

At that moment, Li Linshi immediately took her and fled. Zhong Ying's gaze fell on the yellow dog that was darting out of the grass to catch butterflies in the distance. Her aunt did the same. Li Changgui was very grateful that his aunt did not forget to take him with her when she ran away.

It is evident that the White Tiger is like the embodiment of light, naturally suppressing all darkness.

Even though Li Linshi's power continued to grow, Zhong Ying did not encounter the White Tiger again when he took her to the hot springs in the mountains several times afterward, which was obviously intentional.

Well, getting rich is important, but there are things that are even more important than that.

Li Lin belatedly realized, "You want me to kill the white tiger on Ying Mountain?"

Zhong Ying's thinking was far beyond what people were capable of at that time, and she would often come up with all sorts of novel ideas. If she didn't explain herself on the spot, even if Li Linshi was very smart, it would take him a while to understand her.

Zhong Ying quickly waved her hand, "No."

Tiger didn't do anything wrong. Yingshan is its home, after all. It just randomly came to its home to take over its territory and even tried to kill it. What a despicable person! It's just like Xiao Rizi!

Zhong Yingliang felt heartbroken for a while, silently condemned himself, and completely gave up the idea of ​​planting tea trees.

If this road is blocked, there are other roads. Every road leads to a gold mine. Let's think about other side hustles to get rich.

Once Zhong Ying put her mind at ease, she truly stopped thinking about the south-to-north tea relocation project.

“Although I can rest when it rains,” Zhong Ying said, sitting at the doorway looking at the gloomy sky and the incessant rain, “it’s been raining for three days straight, and I’m starting to feel restless.”

Brown Sugar sat down beside her and barked in agreement. Dogs don't like rain either; the ground is muddy after being wet by the rain, and stepping on it feels no less like stepping in another dog's poop.

"It rains a lot in summer, it'll get better after this period," Li Linshi comforted him.

At first, people thought it was just another ordinary rain, like any other year, only it lasted a little longer. But this kind of thing happens during the rainy season. Besides, there had been the busy harvest season, the protection of melon fields, and various celebrations, keeping everyone incredibly busy. Maybe this was just the heavens being kind, giving people a few days to rest.

The people of the Tonggan production team stayed in their own homes, and no one went out to play even on rainy days. As a result, no one noticed when the Ganlin River first became muddy, and people went to sleep as usual when it got dark.

The rain pattering against the eaves created a hypnotic white noise, and Zhong Ying was sleeping soundly when she was woken up by a ghostly noise in the middle of the night. She, who was usually not grumpy when she woke up, was about to get angry.

Before Zhong Ying could get angry, Li Linshi said in a deep voice with a grim expression, "Something's happened. A flash flood is coming, and I can't control it."

The Ganlin River water is like the blood in his body, but just like when a person notices something wrong with their body, a blood clot has often already formed.

Actually, Li Linshi realized something was wrong not too late, but the flash flood was too fast, and the river swell caused by the rain was also due to the irresistible forces of nature. The rushing water washed over the soil on the mountain surface, carrying muddy black water.

Li Linshi tried to intervene forcefully and stop it, but for some reason, Gan Linhe, which was usually under his control, was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins. All he could do was slow down its rate of eruption.

Humans are as insignificant as dust in the face of natural disasters. Even if Li Linshi has extraordinary abilities, he is ultimately not a god.

Upon hearing Li Lin's concise words, Zhong Ying completely forgot about getting angry. She practically jumped out of bed as if she had been kicked in the butt, put on her shoes, grabbed a piece of clothing, and rushed into the rain.

Li Linshi quickly erected a water-like rain shelter over Zhong Ying's head.

"Sister, wake Qianqian up quickly! Find a ladder and climb up to the roof!" Zhong Ying banged on the door of the next room a few times to wake up Li Rou and her daughter. She didn't have time to talk to them anymore before rushing out of the house.

Zhong Ying ran to the broadcasting station without stopping, took out her key to unlock the door, and because she was flustered, she failed to insert the key into the keyhole several times. It took her several seconds longer than usual to finally open the door. She rushed into the room, plugged in the broadcasting equipment, and turned it on.

A piercing screech broke the silence of the night in the Tonggan production team. Zhong Ying swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. "Everyone, get up quickly—"

She couldn't help but panic. It was Zhong Ying's first time experiencing a flash flood. It was only a two-minute walk from her home, but a thin layer of water had already risen on the road. The floodwaters were rising too fast.

Zhong Ying turned the loudspeaker up to the maximum volume: "Get up! Everyone, get up quickly! If you have a ladder, get it out now. If you don't have a ladder, use baskets or stools. Try to climb onto the roof as soon as possible! A flash flood is coming!"

People who were awakened hurriedly got out of bed and dressed.

“Her father, that’s Yingni’er’s voice,” Deng Xia said, her face pale, and she involuntarily grabbed Zhong Chunsheng’s hand. “Why is there such a sudden flash flood?”

Such incidents have happened before in the Tonggan production team. More than forty years ago, a flash flood took away the entire landlord's family, which shows that flash floods can really be deadly.

Zhong Chunsheng was also terrified, but he did as his daughter said. "Quick, no matter what, climb to a higher place first! Xinzi, quickly find the ladder in the house!"

The river that had flowed into the village was already ankle-deep. Zhong Ying waded forward, saying, "Stop gathering the food! Get up on the roof and stay there! We can always find another way to get food, but if you lose your life, you lose everything!"

"Brother Nie, could you help Auntie San up so she can stay with your family..."

"How can you climb the ladder while carrying a chicken? Let it fend for itself. Hurry up and get up there, your dad and mom are waiting behind you..."

Zhong Ying's voice became hoarse from shouting, and then she ran into Li Rongshi and Nie Jinfeng, each holding a child.

"Second brother and sister-in-law, why aren't you hurrying up and finding a ladder to get to the roof? What are you doing running around on the road?" Zhong Ying was really having a headache.

"Are Father and Mother awake? Where is Rou Ni'er? I want to go back and stay with them," Li Rongshi said hurriedly, regretting that he hadn't moved back to live with his parents after his older brother left because of past grievances.

Zhong Ying urged, "With such a commotion, how could he not be awake? Hurry up, hurry up, don't delay any longer."

“Your mother, Xiaolong, and Brother Nie’s family are staying together,” Zhong Ying said, then looked at Nie Jinfeng. “When I came over, I saw that they had already climbed onto the roof.”

Nie Jinfeng breathed a sigh of relief, nodded to express her gratitude, and said no more to waste time. She carried her youngest son and walked with her husband towards the village entrance, wading through the water.

As Zhong Ying passed by her own door, she was grabbed by the sharp-eyed Deng Xia.

"What are you still doing outside?" Deng Xia said anxiously, holding onto her daughter tightly. "Hurry up and go inside!"

“I’m the production team leader, so I have to step up in times like these.” Zhong Ying usually doesn’t feel anything special, but when something really happens, her sense of responsibility makes her unable to think only of herself and ignore the safety of others.

Deng Xia wouldn't let go. "At a time like this, everyone should hold on to their own lives. How can we wait for you to arrange everyone's lives? Hurry up! Other people's lives are more important than your own?"

Zhong Ying wanted to say that she at least had Li Linshi as a trump card, but her mother and father both pushed her away, leaving Zhong Ying with no choice but to climb up the ladder.

Zhong Xin, who was already on the roof, grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her up with a force.

Deng Xia and Zhong Chunsheng then went up to the roof.

Standing high on the rooftop, Zhong Ying could see the raging torrent of water even more clearly. The rushing black water, mixed with mud and rocks, surged down like a monster, visibly swallowing larger and larger chunks of the ground, a sight that was both shocking and terrifying.

Almost immediately, the entire village fell.

-----------------------

Author's note: Zhong Ying: I wish this mountain were mine.

Yingshan: I understand. Come back, come back!