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On the third day of the third lunar month, peach blossoms bloom in the peach garden.
The pink petals shone brightly in the sunlight, their color resembling a young girl's face, delicate and adorable.
Wang Shuping made peach blossom honey and peach blossom wine, which she stored away so that she could drink them in the autumn.
It has a low alcohol content, making it suitable for women. It can relax muscles and improve blood circulation, as well as beautify the skin.
The work of the livestock team will be temporarily left to Professor Wang, Professor Gu, and others.
He Tiantian and Aunt Liu have both been reassigned to plant peach trees. Peach trees are now the top priority in Qijia Village's work, and there can be no carelessness whatsoever.
While peach trees were being transplanted in Qijia Village, Director Yang and several assistants continued their excavation of the ancient tomb. Previously, work had to be halted because the ground had frozen due to the cold weather.
Springtime, when flowers bloom, is also the time for them to start work.
"Comrade He, our excavation of the ancient tomb is very close to your peach orchard, so we may need you to transplant these peach trees," said Director Yang, who came over to speak with He Jingyu first.
People thrive when they move, but trees die when they are moved.
Although he's there, he won't die, but it will affect this year's peach production.
“Director Yang, it’s not that we don’t support your work. How about this? You can start excavating from the tomb-raiding hole. If there’s an ancient tomb under the peach orchard, we’ll move it to another location. If not, then we won’t move it. After all, these trees are four years old, which is a crucial period for them to flower and bear fruit. We can’t be hasty,” He Jingyu said. What’s underground is the nation’s treasure, but what’s above ground are the villagers’ crops and his hard work. We can’t just waste them like this.
Director Yang realized that He Jingyu wasn't the kind of person who was unreasonable and domineering. Besides, He Jingyu had said that it wasn't that they wouldn't move it, but there had to be an ancient tomb underground. If there wasn't, they wouldn't relocate it.
"Those things, thank you for your help, Comrade He," Director Yang said with a smile. "We will need the cooperation of the locals in our future work."
“That’s for sure,” He Jingyu said with a beaming smile.
After Director Yang went to the nearby area to begin the excavation work, He Jingyu went down the mountain to the village to find Secretary Qi and told him about Director Yang's matter.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Qi's face turned extremely ugly. To put it bluntly, what's buried underground belongs to the state and has nothing to do with their Qijia Village. But what's planted on the ground is related to Qijia Village's income!
“I know about this matter. I will coordinate with Director Yang privately to ask him not to dig up the peach orchard area,” Secretary Qi said. “I won’t hide it from you. County Chief Niu told me that last year’s peaches were very well received after they were sent out. This year when I went to the county town for a meeting, County Chief Niu specifically talked to me about this matter, asking me to make sure that this year’s peach supply is guaranteed.”
"Hehe, those leaders have taken a liking to it," He Jingyu said. "If we transplant the peach trees, it will definitely affect the peach yield."
“Who says otherwise?” Secretary Qi said. “We have an old saying in the countryside: ‘People thrive when they move, but trees die when they are moved.’ This tree absolutely cannot be moved. Even if there’s something underneath it, let them dig a hole somewhere else. Don’t worry about this, leave it to me. You and your wife just need to work hard these days and keep an eye on the planting of the peach trees.”
"Don't worry, the weather is great this year, and the survival rate of the saplings is very high," He Jingyu said confidently. This year's yield can increase by fifty percent.
Secretary Qi was very pleased. He Jingyu was an expert in this field, and with his guarantee, he could rest assured.
Afterwards, Secretary Qi spoke with Director Yang, and they agreed to conduct tests. They discovered that the soil beneath the peach orchard lacked the high-quality rammed earth characteristic of tombs, so the orchard was temporarily safe. However, they also received information from Professor Yang that there must be a large tomb not far below the tomb robber's tunnel.
"Secretary Qi, we have limited manpower and need more manpower and resources from Qijia Village." Director Yang could make direct requests to He Jingyu, but he didn't dare to boast to Secretary Qi; even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Because the excavation work couldn't be done by just a few of them, they had to mobilize people from Qijia Village.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Qi said with great difficulty, "Director Yang, it's not that we don't want to help you, but you see, it's spring now. After the peach trees are planted, spring plowing will begin. Only after spring plowing is completed can I allocate manpower to help."
Director Yang also knew the importance of spring plowing, but he was worried that things might go wrong if he waited too long, and hoped that the tomb could be excavated as soon as possible.
"Secretary Qi, how about this? I don't need many, just find me ten strong men to help with the work. We have funds and can provide subsidies," Director Yang said. "Just ten people, that's enough. We can add more after spring planting."
Without sufficient patience, they simply cannot do it.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Qi reluctantly nodded and said, "Then I'll go and ask if anyone is willing to come."
"Then I'll have to trouble Secretary Qi," Director Yang said politely. He knew that a local official was more powerful than a county official, and he couldn't afford to offend Secretary Qi.
After Secretary Qi left, Yang Huihui, a female assistant standing nearby and a distant niece of Director Yang, muttered softly, "Second Uncle, why are you being so polite to such insignificant officials?"
“You’re still young and don’t understand social etiquette,” Director Yang shook his head and said. “As the saying goes, it’s easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings. If we don’t have a good attitude, then Secretary Qi says that spring plowing cannot be delayed, or that no one is willing to come and help. Even if we come from the city, we can’t borrow a single person from Qi Family Village.”
“If we can’t borrow from Qijia Village, we can borrow from other villages!” Yang Huihui said, dissatisfied. “We’re paid allowances, we’re not working for free.”
“Other villages aren’t out of the question, but our work is confidential. Every item we unearth is priceless, so when we ask for help, it’s best to go to the nearest village. In case of a theft, this will ensure that the investigation area is minimized and the item is found in the shortest possible time,” Director Yang explained. “You have a lot to learn, so don’t rush. Observe more, listen more, and talk less.”
"Understood, Second Uncle," Yang Huihui replied, though she felt disdain in her heart but dared not contradict her uncle.
She got her job at the museum through connections after graduating high school. Her powerful backer was her second uncle, and she couldn't afford to offend him.
In her spare time, He Tiantian would come over and cook for He Jingyu.
He Jingyu spends almost all his days in Taoyuan and doesn't have time to go home for meals.
Her mother, Wang Shuping, was also very busy, so He Tiantian usually prepared meals at home, ate with Grandma Qi San first, then brought the dishes upstairs, and cooked some vegetable soup for her father. The food tasted good with the vegetables and flatbread.
Only when they can eat delicious food can He Jingyu and Wang Shuping's tired bodies quickly recover their strength and carry out the next step of their work.
(To be continued.)
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