Chapter 676: My Dear Wife and My Young Son
After getting off the car, the group of people took hoes, buckets and fruit seedlings and walked forward. After about ten minutes of walking, they reached the other side of Xiaofu Mountain.
The foot of the mountain was surrounded by barbed wire by Gao Mingcheng, but a movable door was installed at regular intervals for people to enter and exit.
However, this door has not been opened for a long time, and some vines are tightly wrapped around it, which need to be torn apart before the door can be opened.
Not far from the foot of the mountain, there is a naturally formed ditch.
The water in the ditch flows from farther and higher mountains, meanders all the way here, and then flows into a depression not far away.
It is now mid-September, and although there is water in the ditch, it is not much, only about five centimeters deep. By the end of the year, the ditch will be completely dry, and water will not flow again until the next spring flood.
Those who brought buckets filled their buckets with water and then carried the buckets into the mountain.
As usual, the trees are planted first near the foot of the mountain and then on the hillside, which makes it easier to manage the navel orange forest.
When they arrived at the site, Gao Mingcheng said, "Let's get to work," and then he personally led everyone to start working.
The soil pit has been dug in advance, and even the fertilizer has been piled in advance. After the fruit seedlings are planted and take root, they will be able to absorb nutrients and grow some leaves before winter.
Of course, in order to increase the survival rate, half of the leaves on the fruit seedlings have been pulled out.
Gao Mingcheng, Zhang Chengyuan, the Chen family father and son, plus three hired helpers, a total of eight people, which is not a small number of people.
After untying the straw ropes that tied the fruit seedlings, they could start planting the fruit trees. They were divided into groups of two, one holding the fruit seedlings, and the other using a hoe to cover the roots of the seedlings with soil. After filling the soil, they watered them.
Two hundred fruit seedlings are not a lot. It only takes a while for eight strong laborers to work together. However, when watering them, they need to walk back and forth several times to fetch water from the foot of the mountain.
After all the fruit seedlings are planted and watered, everyone can return.
Gao Mingcheng was afraid that these hard-earned fruit seedlings would die, so he told Chen Dasong to come here every day to water the navel oranges.
Upon hearing this, Chen Dasong patted his chest and agreed.
After returning to Niuweiling, although it was already five o'clock in the evening, the sky was still very bright. It would not be completely dark until around seven o'clock.
Gao Mingcheng thanked the people who came to help, gave each of them two navel oranges, and explained that the market price of these navel oranges was four yuan per pound.
This navel orange looks no different from a tangerine or grapefruit, but when everyone hears that the price is so expensive, and then looks at the two navel oranges in their hands, they feel that it is particularly different.
After everyone else left, Gao Mingcheng followed the Chen father and son to their home to prepare for dinner.
Chen Dasong said in amazement: "Mingcheng, the fruit seedlings you planted are this kind of fruit? Can they really be sold at such a high price?"
Gao Mingcheng laughed and said, "Four yuan a pound is the market price in the mainland, but if it is shipped to Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region, or sold abroad, the price will naturally be more expensive! The price of this navel orange is not bad at the farm gate. If it is good, it can be sold for two yuan a pound."
"Uncle Chen, after these fruit seedlings are planted, it will take three years for them to bear fruit. During these three years, please take good care of them and let the trees grow well."
When Chen Dasong heard that the fruit of this fruit tree was so precious, his heart suddenly tightened, and he said repeatedly: "Okay, Mingcheng, don't worry, we will definitely take good care of the fruit tree!"
This batch of navel oranges can be regarded as the most expensive fruit trees in the entire Xiaofushan!
Fruit trees like peaches, pears, bayberries, oranges, grapefruits, etc., all have average selling prices, and their wholesale prices are even lower.
For this reason, the peaches, Sanhua plums and other fruit trees previously planted in southern Jiangxi were all cut down and the land was used to grow navel oranges.
It is understandable that farmers choose to grow fruit trees that have high profits.
While talking, several people came to Chen's house.
At this point, the craftsmen who came to build the house had already gone home, and Aunt Liu and her daughter-in-law were busy in the kitchen.
Seeing Gao Mingcheng coming over, Aunt Liu immediately smiled and said, "Mingcheng is here, wash your hands first, the food will be ready soon!"
Gao Mingcheng and others got a basin of water to wash their hands. When they finished washing their hands, several dishes had already been served on the table.
The villagers' dinner tables naturally eat whatever vegetables are available in the fields. When a certain vegetable is in season, that vegetable may be eaten every day and at every meal.
Gao Mingcheng had been hungry for a long time and didn't care whether the food was good or not. He picked up a big bowl of rice and started to eat the food. He had been eating fried eggplant with peppers for the whole summer, but Gao Mingcheng still didn't get tired of it because it went well with rice!
Of course, peppers and eggplants are about to go out of season, and it will not be easy to eat fresh peppers and eggplants then.
In addition to several commonly eaten dishes, there is also a plate of stir-fried tender pumpkin on the table.
Some of the pumpkins in the field have turned red and old, but some have just grown. These tender pumpkins can be picked and stir-fried. They taste soft, tender and sweet.
In fact, pumpkin flowers can also be eaten. They can be used to make soup with meat, or fried with eggs. It’s just that it’s rare to eat this dish, so you have to come across it.
Pumpkin flowers are divided into male and female. Male flowers do not bear fruit, so after the male flowers bloom, they can be picked and cooked.
Gao Mingcheng ate very quickly, like a whirlwind. Before others put down their chopsticks, he had already finished two bowls of rice.
"Oh, I'm finally full!" Gao Mingcheng sighed with contentment.
After a busy and tiring day today, I finally had a meal that I liked.
For him, buying the fruit seedlings didn’t cost much, but the long journey was tiring and costly in fuel!
After eating and taking a short rest, Gao Mingcheng prepared to return to the county town.
After saying hello to the Chen family, Gao Mingcheng walked towards his home alone.
Unexpectedly, Chen Duofu took a few quick steps and soon caught up with him. Chen Duofu said, "Mingcheng, there is already honey in the beehive. Do you want to shake the honey out these days, or wait until after the late rice is harvested? I see there are not many bottles in the room. Do you want to buy some yourself next time, or let my dad buy them when he delivers the things to the county?"
Gao Mingcheng said, "Let's wait until the late rice is harvested before shaking the honey! The longer the honey is brewed, the less water it contains, making it easier to preserve. As for the bottles, my dad will host a banquet on the 19th. I will come back to enjoy the banquet and bring the bottles back with me. When you are free, wash the bottles and drain the water."
Chen Duofu nodded and said, "Okay."
Gao Mingcheng remembered that he had called Gao Yue and Lin Ye to help him last time when he was shaking the honey, but everyone was still exhausted, so he said, "Do you think you guys should shake the honey out slowly, or call a few people from the village to shake the honey? If you call people, just put it on the account."
Chen Duofu thought for a moment and said, "Mingcheng, if you are not in a hurry to sell the honey, then we can slowly shake the honey ourselves. After the late rice is harvested, there will be less work in the fields, and we can spare time to shake the honey."
Gao Mingcheng calculated the time. Although he would have to go to Yangcheng to purchase goods after drinking the wine given by his father, he was not in a hurry to sell the honey right away. He could take it with him next time he went to purchase goods.
Gao Mingcheng reminded: "This is the last batch of honey this year. As usual, don't shake it too clean. Leave some for the bees."
Chen Duofu nodded to indicate that he knew.
As they were talking, they had already arrived at Gao Mingcheng's home.
The car stopped in front of the door. Gao Mingcheng and Chen Duofu worked together to load the vegetables and eggs into the car. Gao Mingcheng opened the door, turned the key and started the car.
He looked at Chen Duofu outside the car window and said, "I'm leaving."
"Hey, take care." Chen Duofu stood where he was and watched him drive away.
The sun had already set at this time, but the rays of light were still slanting in from the west, and the entire sky seemed to have been divided into two parts, light and dark.
Gao Mingcheng was driving on the national highway facing the sunset.
This national highway leads to the provincial capital. When Gao Mingcheng drove to the provincial capital before, he actually had to pass through Junling, but the county town was on the right and the provincial capital was on the left.
With a car, traveling is indeed much more convenient. When Gao Mingcheng arrived at the county town, it was not completely dark yet, but it would soon be dark. The sunset glow had dissipated, and soon the world would be plunged into darkness.
Gao Mingcheng had already eaten dinner, so he didn't go to the clothing store, but went straight home.
Xuanyuemei and Xiaoxuxu are already at home. They now have lunch and dinner at the kindergarten. After dinner, they go straight home to rest.
The TV in the living room was on, and the sound of cartoons could be heard from it. Xiao Xuxu was sitting on the sofa, watching the cartoons with great interest.
There was a sound of water coming from the bathroom, it seemed that Xuanmei was taking a bath there.
Gao Mingcheng's return was not noticed and welcomed by them immediately, which made Gao Mingcheng feel a little disappointed.
So he stepped forward and blindfolded Xiao Xuxu's eyes.
Xiao Xuxu was watching a cartoon with great interest, when suddenly everything went dark in front of him and he heard someone say in a strange voice, "Guess who I am?"
Little Xuxu was a little scared at first, but he quickly realized that this was his father. Even though Gao Mingcheng deliberately spoke in a pinched voice, little Xuxu still recognized him.
"Dad! Dad, you're back!"
Little Xuxu was so excited that he wanted to stand up and turn around to look at his father. Gao Mingcheng took his hand away, allowing little Xuxu to regain his sight.
Seeing that it was indeed his father who came back, little Xuxu didn't care about the cartoon anymore and immediately stretched out his hand to signal for his father to hold him.
Gao Mingcheng saw that Xiao Xuxu had already taken a bath and changed into pajamas, so he didn't want to hug him.
"Daddy is dirty. I'll hug you after I take a shower!" Gao Mingcheng put his hand on Xiao Xuxu's head, easily stopping Xiao Xuxu's request for a hug.
Xiao Xuxu was suppressed and could only pout helplessly.
Gao Mingcheng didn't care about him. He was covered in sweat and dirt. If Xiao Xuxu hadn't taken a shower, the father and son could have played together for a while.
"You continue watching cartoons! I'm going to take a shower!" Gao Mingcheng let go of his hand and signaled Xiao Xuxu to continue watching cartoons.
He returned to his room to get some clean clothes, then wanted to sneak into the bathroom to take a bath with Xuanyuemei!
Unexpectedly, when he quietly opened the bathroom door, he saw Xuanmei had already put on her clothes and was soaking her dirty clothes in a basin, apparently preparing to wash clothes.
Seeing this, Gao Mingcheng's eyes quickly revealed a hint of disappointment.
"Mingcheng! You're back!" Unlike Gao Mingcheng, Xuanmei was very surprised and happy. Her eyes were filled with joy when she looked at Gao Mingcheng.
Gao Mingcheng collected his thoughts and said with a smile, "Well, I'm back. The fruit trees have been planted, and it's okay for me to stay in the village, so I came back first."
He glanced at the dirty clothes soaking in the basin, frowned and said, "The washing machine is bought to wash clothes, don't be reluctant to use it! You are busy all day long and very tired, it's time to relax and stop washing clothes by hand!"
Xuanyuemei knew that he was concerned about her, and she felt sweet in her heart. She explained, "When you are not at home, only Xiaoxuxu and I have clothes to wash. We change clothes every day in summer, and they are not too dirty, so I am too lazy to turn on the washing machine."
If there are few clothes, hand washing is also quick, especially summer clothes, which are very light and thin and do not require much effort to wash.
Gao Mingcheng said, "Then don't wash it today, just throw it in the washing machine! I have two sets of dirty clothes!"
Manyu Mei looked Gao Mingcheng up and down and said, "You need to wash your clothes again before you can put them in the washing machine!"
Okay, you are disgusted by the fact that Gao Mingcheng is dirty!
Gao Mingcheng took off all his clothes in front of Xuanyue and signaled her with his eyes to wash them.
Many beautiful faces blushed. Even though they were old couples, they were not ashamed!
Xuanyuemei picked up the dirty clothes that Gao Mingcheng took off, washed them under the faucet outside, and left the bathroom for Gao Mingcheng to take a shower.
The way a man takes a bath is different from that of a woman. It only took Gao Mingcheng five minutes to wash his hair and body!
When he came out in his pajamas, Xuanyuemei had just washed the dirty clothes and put them in the washing machine.
Add water and detergent, then start the washing function, and the washing machine will do the rest.
Gao Mingcheng saw that many girls still had to wash their underwear by hand, so he went to the living room first to improve the parent-child relationship with Xiao Xuxu.
Gao Mingcheng picked up Xiao Xuxu, which immediately made Xiao Xuxu burst into laughter and started climbing up and down on Gao Mingcheng's body.
Gao Mingcheng asked him some questions, such as whether he had behaved well in the past two days, whether he was well behaved, whether he had eaten well, etc.
Xiao Xuxu can already express his feelings, but his pronunciation is a little unclear and sometimes he can't express them accurately.
But it doesn’t matter, people who are familiar with him can understand what he means.
After Gao Mingcheng and Xiao Xuxu played for a while, Xuanyuemei wiped her hands and came over. She sat down next to Gao Mingcheng and watched the father and son making fun of each other.
Since Xiao Xuxu's attention was on Gao Mingcheng, Xuanyue quietly turned off the TV.
Before, she wanted to take a shower and do laundry, so she turned on the TV for Xiao Xuxu to watch it to prevent him from running around.
After Xuanyuemei came over, Gao Mingcheng held Xiao Xuxu in one hand and put his arm around Xuanyuemei's waist with the other, and asked about the clothing store and the kindergarten.
The clothing store has already been on track. Although the kindergarten is newly opened, the number of students admitted is limited, so it is not too difficult to manage.
Although we will be at a loss in the first year, at least we can gain experience. Once the kindergarten’s reputation spreads and the teachers in the kindergarten have rich experience, we will be able to enroll more children.
Many Americans are still quite optimistic about the prospects of kindergartens.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
