The two took the basins down from the balcony and went back to their room to change into clothes and shoes suitable for work. Zhou Yi also changed out of his leather shoes and into a pair of sneakers.
Chen Hong gave him a pair of gloves, a sickle, and a hoe. Each of them wore a straw hat, a water bottle, and a towel. With baskets on their backs, they took Zhou Yi to the orchard on the hillside.
When they passed the hotel, Xiao Hao's mother teased them a couple of times and told Chen Hong to teach Zhou Yi how to do farm work.
Chen Hong rolled her eyes at Xiao Hao's mother, muttering under her breath, "Old hag!" before quickly pulling Zhou Yi away.
Walking down the street, she saw Zhou Yi carrying a basket on his back and a hoe on his shoulder, and she couldn't help but smile.
Zhou Yi was puzzled by her laughter. "What are you laughing at? Is something wrong?" He looked down at himself but couldn't find anything amiss.
Chen Hong said with a smile, "I just think it's a bit awkward for someone as tall as you to carry such a small basket; it doesn't look right at all."
Next time we go to the market, I'll buy you a big basket. I wonder if you'll have any time off when the pears ripen in August.
Zhou Yi said somewhat apologetically, "I really can't guarantee that! With my profession, I never know when I'll be assigned a mission."
I'll try to save up my vacation days so I can come back and stay for a few more days each time. Once I've gradually retired, things will be better; my vacation schedule will be more fixed then, and I'll be able to come back more often.
Chen Hong waved her hand generously, "I also need to go to sea often, it's okay, it depends on your own schedule!"
I already knew that soldiers were often forced into their positions without any choice in the matter. Have you forgotten that my brother-in-law is also in the military? Do you know each other?
His name is Lü, and he's also from your Beijing Military Region. I don't know which regiment he's in, but we never inquire about matters concerning the military.
Zhou Yi gave him a resentful look. "We're dating now, and you don't even ask me which division, which regiment, or what branch of the military I belong to? Don't you care about me at all?"
Chen Hong said casually, "We're just dating, not getting married. Why would I care what your workplace is?"
I can't go to you, I don't want to worry about that. Besides, I'm not stupid, your army must be something special.
Last time in Shanghai, when you unexpectedly barged into my room, I already understood that I shouldn't ask questions I shouldn't ask, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
After hearing Chen Hong's words, Zhou Yi said helplessly, "You're too good at putting people down. Although what you said is true, as a newly minted girlfriend, can't you say something nice to comfort me?"
Chen Hong went into the field, casually bent down to pull up weeds, and made a coquettish voice, "Brother Zhou Yi, where is your unit's address?"
Give me your unit's phone number. I'll think about you every day and call you daily. Please don't forget about them!
She couldn't help but get goosebumps after saying that. She rolled up her sleeves and stretched her arm out in front of Zhou Yi. "Look, isn't it cheesy? Isn't it exciting?"
Zhou Yi looked at her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This woman was really quirky and knew how to control his mind. It seemed that he was doomed to be with her for life.
Chen Hong was teaching Zhou Yi (the Book of Changes) while pulling weeds in the fields. These weeds were so vigorous that even after being weeded twice, many still managed to escape.
Every time I go into the field, I find them; their offspring are endless. I pull them all out whenever I see them.
These weeds not only compete with crops for nutrients, but if left to grow and mature, the seeds from a single weed can multiply half an acre of land into weeds.
Year after year, farmers battled with the weeds in the fields, but they could never eradicate them completely.
The sweet potato vines have now grown to over a meter long. This year, we used a lot of farmyard manure, and they are growing very vigorously.
Chen Hong was delighted with the sight of the sweet potato leaves and casually picked a lot of them, intending to make garlic sweet potato leaves for lunch.
In the peanut field, Chen Hong discovered many newly sprouted shepherd's purse leaves, which were just ten centimeters long and at their tenderest.
As if she had discovered a treasure, Chen Hong carefully avoided the peanut vines and dug up a lot of shepherd's purse. There is a saying here: "On the third day of the third lunar month, shepherd's purse is better than gold!"
Although ordinary people do not know the specific uses and effects of shepherd's purse, they know that shepherd's purse is the true "king of wild vegetables".
Shepherd's purse has no side effects or contraindications when eaten, and it tastes good no matter how it's cooked or what ingredients it's paired with.
It's not that ordinary people are superstitious about shepherd's purse; it truly is a precious wild vegetable that is both food and medicine. It benefits the spleen, promotes urination, stops bleeding, and improves eyesight.
It has remarkable effects in treating dysentery, edema, gonorrhea, chyluria, hematemesis, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, and red and painful eyes.
It is the wild vegetable that is closest to ordinary people, consumed most frequently, and is the most economical.
They grow widely in fields, slopes, and streamsides, and are ubiquitous in rural areas. You can easily dig some up and take them home; they can be used in dishes, soups, and fillings.
It can also be washed, dried, and steeped in water to make tea, serving as both a tea and a medicine, achieving two benefits in one and deeply loved by the people.
Chen Hong was surprised that a new crop of tender shepherd's purse had grown in the field in June. Without hesitation, she dug up a small portion of it, intending to make dumplings or wontons when she got home.
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