Chapter 32: Recovery and Hidden Concerns under the Warm Sun
# Chapter 32: Recovery and Hidden Concerns Under the Warm Sun
Three days of fine weather bathed Qingxi Village in a blanket of warm sunlight. In the old variety base, the yellow edges of the tomato vines' leaves became increasingly distinct, and the previously half-ripe fruits swelled slightly, taking on a faint blush. New runners sprouted from the strawberry beds, their tender green tips creeping slowly along the soil. The most surprising thing was Xiaochen's own tomato seedlings. The green buds on their stems had grown into leaves as big as a fingernail, radiating a vibrant, tender look that was the most reassuring sight of recent times.
Lin Xiaoman squatted beside the strawberry patch, gently brushing the morning dew off the leaves with a soft-bristled brush—to prevent it from suffocating the new buds, a detail her grandfather had taught her in his notes. Chen Wang approached with a clay pot filled with spring water from the previous night. Following her movements, he slowly poured water over the roots, the water skirting the runners without splashing a speck of mud. "The experts at the Agricultural Science Institute said the ground temperature has risen two degrees in the past few days, which is perfect for new roots to take root. Our seedlings are finally making it."
"Grandpa's old tricks really work." Lin Xiaoman straightened up, the dewdrops on her hair falling into the dirt, creating tiny splashes. She reached out to brush the grass debris from Chen Wang's sleeve, her fingertips touching his wrist, and they smiled at each other—this unspoken understanding, a warmth slowly forged through many storms. Not far away, Xiaochen was learning to weave bamboo baskets from Grandma Zhang. The chubby little boy held the soft bamboo strips, clumsily twisting them together. Whenever he made a mistake, he stuck out his tongue and started over. Wangfu lay beside him, his tail swaying gently with his movements, occasionally picking up a fallen bamboo strip and passing it to him.
"Sister Xiaoman, the study tour group from the city wants to come next week!" The receptionist ran over, waving a wrinkled registration form. "They want to see the revival of old varieties and experience our 'spring water seedling watering' method."
"Promise them." Lin Xiaoman nodded immediately, her eyes sparkling. "Reinforce the bamboo frames in the parent-child planting area and hang a small wooden sign at each location that reads 'Little Guardian's Exclusive Field'. Also, prepare some small clay pots and let the children collect spring water from the mountain stream themselves so they can experience firsthand how to protect the seedlings."
Chen Wang added, "Let's add a 'Stories Sharing Session on Old Varieties' and have Xiaochen tell us about his experience with the tomato seedlings. He waters them every day and talks to them. The children will definitely enjoy listening to him and will understand better why we need to protect these old varieties."
The villagers' enthusiasm was instantly boosted. Uncle Li and a few young people wrapped anti-slip rope around the bamboo shelves in the parent-child area and carved a cherry tomato pattern on a wooden sign. Aunt Wang brewed a large pot of strawberry jam and placed it in a freshly fired stoneware jar, affixing a handwritten "Qingxi Old Flavor" label to the jar as a gift for the study tour group. Even the usually silent old accountant volunteered to help, meticulously painting tiny pear tree leaves on the jar with a brush.
The base gradually returned to its former bustle, and the livestream was back online. In the camera, Chen Wang held up Xiaochen's tomato seedlings, showing off their new leaves. Lin Xiaoman explained how to judge a seedling's health by looking at its leaves. Xiaochen would occasionally lean over, putting his chubby hands in front of the camera and making a "yeah" gesture: "My seedlings are growing tall!" Comments filled the chat room with comments like "So comforting" and "I'll take my kids there this weekend." Xiao Zhou, who oversees e-commerce, was grinning from ear to ear: "We've sold over 500 bottles of pre-ordered strawberry jam, more than we did last year!"
But amidst this bustle, a subtle lingering worry lingered. That evening, as Lin Xiaoman sorted through the old information bags Su Qing had left behind, she felt a rough, grainy sensation at the bottom. Poured it out, she discovered a small, brown powder—not the fertilizer or soil typically used at the base. Her heart skipped a beat. She immediately sealed the bag and sent it to a testing facility overnight, having a villager in the county town deliver it. As she clutched the bag, she felt a certainty that Su Qing wouldn't give up so easily.
Chen Wang noticed something was wrong with her. During dinner, he watched her put down her chopsticks after taking two bites of rice. He asked softly, "What's wrong? You've been absent-minded all day. Are you tired?"
Lin Xiaoman explained the powder incident, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of the bowl. "I always felt that she left the information too easily, and now she's found this packet of powder... What if she has other plans?"
"Don't panic." Chen Wang held her hand and put the eggs in her bowl. "We'll know once the test results come out. Even if there's a problem, we can find a solution together." He paused and added, "The police station also said that there's solid evidence that Su Qing fabricated evidence and damaged property. She will most likely be severely punished, and she won't cause trouble again in the short term."
Even so, the two of them were still worried. The next morning, the testing agency called, their voice serious: "That's a rare soil inhibitor. A small amount will slow crop growth, and too much will compact the soil and make it difficult to degrade naturally. You must check the soil at the base immediately!"
Lin Xiaoman hung up the phone, her hands trembling. "She planned this all along! Leaving the information behind was to make us let down our guard. The real purpose was to secretly spread the inhibitors!"
Chen Wang's face darkened. He immediately led the villagers to inspect the soil at the base, starting with a small shovel to dig up the dirt around the lab. Sure enough, they found brown powder in several hidden corners. While the amount wasn't large, it would slowly seep through over time. Most worryingly, the soil near the roots of the old pear tree was harder than elsewhere. The previously quivering silvery-white roots now lacked their former vitality.
"We have to clean it up as soon as possible!" Chen Wang made a quick decision. "Uncle Li, take a few people and slowly water the soil with mountain spring water to dilute the inhibitors. Don't use strong water to avoid damaging the old tree roots. Xiaoman, check Grandpa's notes to see if there are any natural degradation methods. I'll contact soil remediation experts to ask if there are any targeted degradation agents."
A silent "soil rescue" campaign quietly unfolded. Villagers squatted on the ground, watering with thin hoses, their streams as thin as raindrops, fearing to disturb the soil. Lin Xiaoman, buried in his grandfather's notebook, traced his fingertips over the dense handwriting, his eyes red with soreness, before finally finding a note on a page: "Boil pine needles and wormwood in water, irrigate the roots, and it can neutralize some soil toxins. Suitable for older varieties."
After making over a dozen calls, Chen Wang finally connected with a soil remediation expert who said he could be in Qingxi Village by noon tomorrow. Late at night, the lights were still on at the base. Lin Xiaoman rubbed her sore shoulders. Chen Wang gently massaged her from behind, looking at the herbal atlas in his notebook. "Have you found it?"
"Well, Grandpa said that the juice made from pine needles and mugwort works. Let's go to the back mountain to collect some tomorrow morning." Lin Xiaoman's voice was tired, but revealed a tenacity. "As long as we can save the soil, the seedlings will slowly recover."
Chen Wang pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Thank you for your hard work. I'll go pick the fruits tomorrow, and you stay home and watch over the watering."
"Let's go together." Lin Xiaoman leaned on his shoulder, smelling the faint earthy scent on him, and felt more at ease. "Let's do it together and get it done quickly."
At this time, a soft "tapping" sound came from outside the window - it was Xiaochen running over barefoot, lying on the window, waving his little hands at the tomato seedlings, and whispered: "Miaomiao, don't be afraid, mom and dad will protect you." He was holding Wangfu in his arms, and the puppy also "woofed" as if to agree.
The two smiled at each other, their fatigue transformed into warmth. Chen Wang pulled out his phone and took a photo of the tomato seedlings in the moonlight and Xiaochen by the window, then edited his "Orchard Diary": "There are worries and challenges, but with her, him, and everyone, we are confident. Go slowly, and we will always be able to save the soil and protect the seedlings."
The next morning, at daybreak, Chen Wang and Lin Xiaoman headed for the back mountain, carrying bamboo baskets on their backs. Morning dew soaked their trouser legs, and pine needles scratched their fingertips. But when the baskets were filled with wormwood and pine needles, and they looked at each other's smiling faces, both covered in grass scraps, they felt that the fatigue was nothing.
When we returned to the base, the villagers had already set up a large pot. Spring water simmered in it, sprinkled with pine needles and mugwort. A faint fragrance soon wafted through the air, enveloping the entire base. Xiaochen, holding a small spoon, stood on tiptoe to help add water to the pot. Wangfu followed behind, holding his small bamboo basket in his mouth, occasionally picking up fallen mugwort leaves, like a little helper.
But just as the juice was almost ready, the sky suddenly darkened. The once clear sky was instantly obscured by dark clouds, and the wind picked up, rattling the shade nets. Suddenly, an expert from the Agricultural Science Institute called in, his voice urgent: "Oh no! The weather warning says there's a short period of heavy rainfall in your area, possibly accompanied by hail! The old seedlings won't withstand the rain! Find something to cover them!"
Everyone's faces paled. The newly sprouted tomato and strawberry seedlings were so tender they snapped at the slightest touch. The soil, which had finally loosened somewhat, was also worried about being hardened by the torrential rain. Chen Wang immediately shouted, "Quick! Get out the spare plastic wrap and old sheets, cover the seedlings with them, and hold down the corners with rocks! Prioritize the old pear tree and Xiaochen's tomato seedlings!"
The villagers immediately set to work, some carrying plastic sheeting, others moving rocks. Xiaochen joined in, picking up small stones to press down the edges of the sheeting. Chubby, clutching the stones, ran with a sweat. Lin Xiaoman squatted beneath the old pear tree, carefully spreading the plastic sheeting around the tree's roots. Chen Wang came over to help her secure the edges. Their hands clasped beneath the sheeting, the warmth of each other's fingertips radiating from their fingers.
The wind grew stronger, the dark clouds pressed lower and lower, and the figures in the base were busy in the strong wind, but no one retreated. Lin Xiaoman looked up at the sky and prayed silently in his heart: Old Breed, hold on a little longer; Qingxi Village, hold on a little longer.
Chen Wang held her hand tightly, his eyes determined. He knew that the battle with Su Qing and the natural disasters wasn't over yet, but as long as their hearts remained united, as long as the villagers remained willing to stand shoulder to shoulder, there would be no difficulties they couldn't overcome. Smoke from the cooking stoves still drifted from the base, and the fragrance of wormwood mingled with the wind, becoming the most reassuring smell at this moment.
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