The loquats in Hetou Village are growing very well this year.
Whether the fruit grows well or not has a lot to do with the weather. Otherwise, why do we say that farmers rely on the weather for their livelihood?
Last winter was not too cold. There were a few snowflakes here and there and a little rain occasionally. The rest of the time the sun was so bright that it almost made the spring flowers bloom early.
In spring, the rains come again. The new buds suck the selfless milk of Mother Earth like babies. The loquat trees burst out new buds, and soon the trees are full of loquat babies the size of soybeans.
The newborn loquat babies are pushing and shoving each other on the branches, making it very lively. However, although it looks lively at the moment, fruits, like people, need living space to grow. Fruit farmers will prune them one by one and remove the extra small fruits.
This can also be considered a kind of competition in nature. Maybe the loquat babies just want to be reunited with their families, but unfortunately the fruit farmers don’t think so.
After pruning, each loquat can enjoy the caress of the sun from all directions. The sun and rain turn into nutrients to fill their chests, and they grow bigger and fuller day by day.
Hetou Village ushered in its first bumper year of loquat harvest.
The whole family of villagers went out to pick loquats. Even children of Liang Guoguo's age carried a basket and stood under the tree. As Dahua picked one, he took it one, and as he picked a bunch, he took it another.
In just two days, the house was filled with baskets of all sizes, all filled with bright yellow loquats.
This really worried our Director Liang.
"How can I sell so many loquats? Even if I set up a street stall, I can't sell more than a few baskets a day. These loquats won't look good after three or four days."
Dahua squatted down and carefully looked through the loquats, picking out the ones with scars.
Loquats are very precious. If you touch them lightly, a scar will form on their tender yellow skin the next day, and the fruit will turn black and unsellable.
Xiaojuan helped him choose, but she also frowned and couldn't think of a good solution.
Not to mention them, the whole village is the same.
Last month, when the villagers saw the growth of loquats, they applauded continuously, but now they are all speechless.
What’s the point of growing well and in large quantities? If you can’t sell them, you can’t make money and they will just rot in the fields.
"If it's really not possible, go home and ask Dad?"
Dahua shook his head. His father-in-law had retired a long time ago and he didn't want him to be busy with the affairs of Hetou Village anymore.
Besides, Dahua had already reported the matter to the county, and the higher-ups were also looking for a solution.
Liang Guoguo carried a bunch of loquats to feed the ducks in the yard. He peeled the skins one by one, held the branches and reached into the fence. The ducks came over, stretching their necks and smacking their lips.
These past two days, the children in Hetou Village have had their stomachs filled with sweet loquats. Even after peeling the skin, they are reluctant to take a bite of the sweet and plump flesh.
"Don't be so sad. A good harvest is a good thing. How about this: let's go around and give a basket to Erhua, Master Qiuhua, Xiaohua's godfather, and other relatives. Since it's a good harvest year, everyone deserves to taste something new."
When they arrived at Tangli Village, it was noon and Erhua's family was preparing to eat. Dahai arrived just in time.
There are many people in the family, so there is naturally enough food.
Xiao Ma is smart. He goes shopping for groceries with Tang Sannan every morning and picks out the ones that his master and his mistress like to eat.
Pumpkins in autumn and winter are my wife’s favorite, while my master likes shepherd’s purse and Chinese toon in early spring.
Today I bought Taihu shrimp, pork belly, snails, water spinach and spinach, plus braised beef, candied lotus root and pig ears, and also made steamed eggs.
"The loquats are growing well this year!" Tang Sannan exclaimed.
Luo Zhen was peeling loquats for Xiaoxiao. The little girl's mouth was full of juice, and she wiped it with her mother's sleeve. Luo Zhen gently hit her mouth, but she was not afraid and giggled instead.
"When the sun is good, the fruit will be good," said Luo Zhen.
"Okay, okay." Dahua was hungry due to the journey, and this was his second bowl of white rice.
"Now the mountains and fields of Hetou Village are covered with loquats. They can only rot and fall into the fields to be used as fertilizer."
Erhua poured tea for his brother, fearing he might choke, and said thoughtfully, "Before, when we couldn't even afford food, no one wanted to eat fruit. Now that things are better, there is fruit, but it can't reach the mouths of those who want to eat it."
Dahua nodded. "Fruits don't last long. Oranges are better, but loquats are only good for a week. They're gone after three or four days from the tree."
"City people do like to eat these, but how can they be delivered?" Erhua pushed the bowl of pork ribs toward Dahua.
Dahua raised his hands and said, "That's enough. Now some people in the village take a bus to the city to sell it. They make one round trip a day and sell two baskets.
But every household has harvested countless loquats, and selling them two baskets at a time won’t do!”
Erhua twirled his severed finger. Ever since he quit smoking for Xiaoxiao, he felt uncomfortable whenever he thought about something, and gradually developed the habit of twirling his fingers.
"I did see some people selling canned fruit in the city. They process the fruit and put it in bottles so it can be kept for a long time. There are also people selling fruit in the vegetable market. They have fresh fruit available every day. I don't know how they get their supply."
When Luo Zhen heard Erhua's words, his eyes lit up, as if a string of fireworks exploded in his eyes.
"Mr. Huang and Mr. Lu are very knowledgeable. Why not ask them? We can also ask in the department store. Last time I heard you say that the sales clerks complained about the things the boss gave out. I'm afraid everyone dislikes loquats."
Xiaoxiao ate another loquat in one bite. Luo Zhen pinched off the stem, dipped a handkerchief in water, and carefully wiped the little fish's mouth.
"Oh, yes, yes, it has to be you!" Erhua rubbed his hands excitedly.
Dahua immediately put down his bowl and pulled him, saying, "Let's go!"
"Where are you going?"
"Go to the street and call Boss Lu!"
"Oh yeah, let's go!"
The two brothers threw down their bowls and prepared to leave. Luo Zhen smiled helplessly and said, "As expected, they are brothers. They are equally impatient. Do you still need time for this meal? Let's go after we finish eating!"
Look, even the embarrassed head-scratching posture is the same.
In the afternoon, the two went to the street to make a phone call and told Boss Lu everything in detail. They immediately decided to go out for a while and agreed to come over to talk on the phone in the evening.
In the evening, the sky gradually darkened, smoke rose from every household in Tangli Village, and the fragrance of straw ash could be smelled from afar.
After all the chimneys were extinguished and the two men still hadn't returned, Luo Zhen became impatient and went to the village entrance with Xiao Ma to wait.
After a while, two black shadows, one tall and one short, appeared in the distance. They must be the brothers Dahua and Erhua!
"Master, Master!" Xiao Ma shouted.
"Hey——" Erhua responded from a distance.
When I walked in, I saw that the two of them looked good, so I guess things were going well.
"The food is getting cold, let's go back and eat!" said Luo Zhen.
Erhua, like a young boy, bent down excitedly and said, "Come on, I'll carry you!"
"I'll go by myself. Brother and Pony are here!"
"Hahaha, we didn't see it, get on your back quickly!" Dahua also laughed.
Erhua walked quite fast with Luo Zhen on his back. The moist air brushed against her cheeks. She lay on his back, feeling happy.
"Why don't you ask me?"
"No need to ask, I know something good is going to happen just by looking at your expression!"
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