The two older children went to university, and the two younger children went to high school. With two fewer people at home, it suddenly feels empty.
With the factory operating normally, Yu Yin devoted more of her time to the construction of the farm.
The location has been chosen: a plot of land for rent in a village not far from the sausage factory. Because it's not too far from the city, many villagers have gone to work in the city, and the land in the village is mostly cultivated by the elderly.
After negotiations, Yu Yin rented the largest piece of land to start a farm.
In the 1990s, chemical fertilizers and pesticides gradually entered farmland, and Yu Yin wanted to ensure that the crops she grew were pure natural green food to the greatest extent possible.
Over the years, Yu Yin has accumulated a lot of crop seeds. She doesn't want native seeds to hybridize with foreign species and lose their original flavor.
For Yu Yin, output is not the most important thing; she cares about quality.
Just like their ham sausage factory, they insist on using local black pigs or spotted pigs instead of imported large white pigs. Although white pigs have a higher slaughter rate, the meat is not as flavorful.
Their ham sausages taste absolutely number one and are number one in sales in the industry, although their profits may not be number one because their costs are a bit high.
Yu Yin spent two years to basically complete the farm, and built an outer buffer zone. This way, even if other farmland used pesticides and fertilizers, it would not affect them because they were too far away. The land they contracted was in a good location with a natural buffer zone and was surrounded by water on three sides.
On the farm, a courtyard and holiday cottage were built for Yu Yin to live in. The land was divided into small plots of varying sizes, including vegetable areas, fruit areas, rice areas, and two natural fish ponds.
In 1990, the farm was officially opened for production. Yu Yin spent two years preparing the land and used biological fertilizers for all the crops she planted.
Yu Yin hired biological experts to process the pig manure from the farm into organic fertilizer using scientific techniques. Over two years, all land tests showed it met standards, containing no harmful substances and fulfilling all the criteria for green food.
The person in charge of the farm was introduced by Captain Qiao; he was an experienced retired soldier who had been an excellent logistics officer.
Other positions have also been filled. Due to the influence of the ham sausage factory, it has become very easy for Yu Yin and her team at Green Sprouts to recruit people. College students, experienced managers, and highly skilled professionals have all come to apply.
Yu Yin had the first batch of ripe crops tested by an authoritative institution, which issued a valid certificate confirming them as healthy and pollution-free agricultural products. She then packaged them carefully and sent them to large supermarkets.
A farm built at great expense cannot be allowed to continue operating at a loss; therefore, its marketing strategy is to target the high-end market.
"Mom, the tomato you brought back is delicious. It's sandy and has a persimmon flavor. I don't know why, but many things don't taste the same as they used to. Even though they may look similar, I can still tell the difference."
Quickly eat and comment; this child has a very sensitive sense of taste.
With the start of the new school year approaching, Yu Yin asked her two children if they were going to apply to Lu Shurui's school to study economics. One of them said, "I have to protect the empire that my mother worked so hard to build."
What was most surprising was that Manman said she wanted to study medicine, specifically clinical medicine, and specialize in surgery.
Yu Yin thought she would gradually embark on the path of art. After all, the things she liked had always been artistic: painting, embroidery, guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument)... all quiet, slow-paced things.
"Take your time, think it through. Studying medicine is physically demanding." Yu Yin recalled a saying that had been passed down through the ages: "Advising someone to study medicine will bring down a thunderbolt!"
"Mom, I've made up my mind. This is the only job I want to do, and I'm mentally prepared."
Although she does things slowly and deliberately, she is also a child with her own ideas.
Yu Yin discussed it with Lu Shurui. They agreed that Manman could study medicine, but he had to apply to a local medical school. Studying medicine requires a combined bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree, which takes at least eight years, and Yu Yin wasn't comfortable with Manman studying alone in a different city for such a long time. Besides, hospital work is too tiring; she needs her family to support her at any time.
She gradually stopped planning to go to other places. She couldn't bear being away from home for too long. She was simply a homebody, unlike Kuai Kuai, who was purely afraid of hardship.
With the two younger ones having a goal, and with Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu supporting them in life and Professor Lu guiding them in their studies, Yu Yin became the most idle person.
After the Lunar New Year's Eve of 1990, and after saying goodbye to Pingping and An'an, Yu Yin's family entered the countdown to the college entrance examination!
"Yinyin, I need to talk to you about something."
"Uncle Hu, what's wrong?" Yu Yin asked, puzzled, wondering what had happened to the elderly couple, her face showing concern.
“Your aunt was diagnosed with a lung problem a while ago, and the doctor said she needs to rest. So we were thinking of finding a nursing home so that Kuai Kuai and Man Man can retire there after they finish their college entrance exams.” Uncle Hu was reluctant to leave; they considered it their home.
"When did you go for the checkup? Why didn't you tell me? I'll find a specialist to consult with Aunt Hu and see what the specific situation is." Yu Yin also regarded Aunt Hu as a close family member and was very anxious.
"No need, we booked an appointment with a specialist." Uncle Hu and his colleagues are not short of money; they have saved up quite a bit from their salaries and bonuses.
“Uncle Hu, if you want to recuperate, then don’t go to the nursing home. The conditions are so-so. Go to the farm instead. There are holiday cottages there. You and Aunt Hu can live alone. The environment is nice. You can plant flowers and fish in your spare time, which will lift your spirits.”
"Really? Can we stay at the farm permanently? Let's go, it's a paradise."
Uncle Hu was very excited. He had visited the farm and knew the land well. "Once Kuai Kuai and Man Man finish their college entrance exams, we'll move there. That way, we can still see you often."
Yu Yin understood that although Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu were not short of money, they were afraid of being lonely.
At the end of March, something unexpected happened: Lu's mother passed away!
Since buying an apartment and having running water at home, Lu's mother rarely goes downstairs anymore. Lu's father goes to the park every day to exercise and buy groceries on the way.
Perhaps triggered by something, ever since attending Pingping and An'an's college entrance celebration banquet, Lu's mother has started indulging in excessive eating and drinking. Lu's father has a pension, and Lu Shurui and the others give her monthly allowances, so Lu's mother is not short of money and eats recklessly, and no one can reason with her.
Over the years, she developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. She also disliked exercise and gained a lot of weight. Unexpectedly, at the beginning of spring, she felt unwell and went to the hospital for a checkup, where she was diagnosed with extensive blockage.
He stayed in the hospital for half a month, but still couldn't be saved.
Yu Yin attended the funeral; everyone knew it was a matter of adult dignity.
After seeing off Mrs. Lu, Mr. Lu's spirits were not as high as before. The young couple had grown old together. Whether they argued or fought while they were alive, it was still heartbreaking to see them truly separated by death.
Yu Yin thought that Mr. Lu was already in his seventies and didn't want to find another partner, so she suggested that he go to the farm to keep Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu company. Mr. Lu had been to the farm before and finally agreed.
Yu Yin wouldn't be as close to Lu's father as she is to Lu's grandparents; living together would be inconvenient, and she herself wouldn't be used to it. This arrangement is the most suitable, maintaining a certain distance while meeting occasionally, which is comfortable for everyone.
Next, all that's left is the college entrance exam, whether it's fast or slow. Yu Yin feels that she has completed more than half of her task!
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