Jian Dan immediately put on a stern face.
"Didn't I just say that you'd come and help me pick watermelons in a few days? There are so many, if you don't help me, oh dear, I'm going to be exhausted by myself."
Based on basic agricultural knowledge, these dozens of seedlings won't ripen all at the same time; some will ripen earlier and some later. If the line is stretched out, in rural areas, it can take more than a month for the seedling to complete its mission for the year.
Besides, she wanted to eat watermelon, and there was another plot of land at the base. Planting these was just a casual thing to do, and it was a good way to be clear about the situation so that she wouldn't have trouble explaining herself if someone saw her.
Besides these dozens of plants, there were also some seeds given by Wang Guihua and the old lady from the Liu family, including squash, zucchini, gourd, sunflower seeds, and ground cherries. She sowed quite a lot of them, and there were also a dozen or so sweet stalk seeds that the old lady had dug out years ago. She didn't waste a single one. She didn't make ridges, but planted them in patches, filling the fields completely.
The zucchini will be ready to eat soon, and the winter squash and hanging squash have also grown quite large. The sweet stalks are also as tall as her, and she will probably be able to eat them in another month or so.
When the seedlings first sprouted, she heard that they didn't grow well if planted too densely, so she thinned them out. She didn't throw away the ones she picked out, and planted them along the wall whenever there was space.
Thinning, also known as thinning seedlings, is a process where the seed quantity far exceeds the seedling quantity for both protected and open-field sowing, resulting in overcrowding. To ensure sufficient growing space and nutrient area for the seedlings, some seedlings should be removed in a timely manner, and strong seedlings should be selected to ensure air circulation and adequate sunlight between seedlings. Timely thinning and fixing of seedlings can prevent overcrowding and mutual shading, save soil moisture and nutrients, and promote the cultivation of strong seedlings.
As the saying goes, if plants are too densely packed, they won't grow properly, they won't grow big, and they'll compete for nutrients.
It can be said that she has not wasted a single space in her backyard. Everything growing in every nook and cranny is edible. She is very happy with herself. There will definitely be a bumper harvest in the fall. Didn't you see how shocked these two children were just now?
She knew that while she had the strength to do this kind of work, she was probably not as good as these two kids in other areas. For example, they could easily spot which plants were seedlings and which were weeds. You know, when they first started weeding, those new educated youths couldn't tell the difference even after three days.
The two children immediately patted their chests in agreement.
"No, no, come on, we'll come in a couple of days,"
"Okay, come on, let us take a picture of the melon."
Liu Weimin was almost laughing in exasperation. They really were like children, unable to understand what he was being told. Did he expect them to help him slice the melon? Or were he expecting them to eat it?
"Hmph, you've made a bunch of people cry, while you're all hiding away and eating delicious food?"
Black Egg immediately dropped to the ground, ready to pounce.
"Master!"
Liu Weimin quickly reached out his hand and took several steps back.
"Stop, look at your claws,"
The watermelon was cut into large pieces, and the two children held it in their hands. Their faces, hands, arms, and shirts were covered in bright red juice, which Liu Weimin found very disgusting.
Tiger also stood up to greet them.
"Uncle Weimin."
I simply went back inside and brought out another plate.
"Uncle, have a taste. It was just ripe, so I picked it for you."
Seeing the eager looks in the two children's eyes, I cruelly refused.
"You can't eat anymore, or your stomachs will explode."
The water in that basin over there has been heated in the sun; go wash your hands and face thoroughly.
Walking from the village office here, even though it was evening, the air was still stuffy and hot. Feeling irritable, when I first saw this reddish, steaming thing, I thought I was seeing things and rubbed my eyes.
"Emma, this, this expensive stuff, how could you bear to buy it? And give it to them to eat?"
He thought he was being discreet, so he swallowed hard, then thought for a moment, and realized something was wrong.
"Hey, wait, where did you buy this? The commune couldn't possibly sell it. Besides, what month is it now? Hey, wait, when did you go to the county town again?"
He was still muttering to himself.
"Did I remember wrong? I thought this thing wouldn't be ready until August."
After washing his hands and face, Heidan came over and heard his grandfather speaking softly. He puffed out his little chest and corrected him.
"Grandpa, they weren't bought, my sister grew them herself. There are so many, and they're all green, green balls."
Jian Dan hadn't expected his reaction; she stood there stunned for a moment before remembering to put the plate down.
"Uncle, what are you thinking about? Come and have a taste. It just ripened, and I haven't brought you any yet. I was just saying that I'd have Heidan and Huzi come over in a few days to help me pick the ripe ones."
"Yes, sister, I will definitely come."
Hei Dan agreed from the side, and Liu Weimin was a little unsure of what to say. "You two have already come up with this?"
Suddenly he remembered what he had overheard when he entered the courtyard; it seemed to be about telling them to pat the melons, but he hadn't paid attention.
"You can even grow watermelons?"
“I didn’t interfere,” Jian Dan said with a simple smile.
"How would I know how to plant? I just didn't like the empty space at the base of the wall, so I scattered all the remaining seeds, whatever they were, and didn't really care about them. I only noticed the results now."
Tell me, isn't that infuriating? Anyway, after hearing that, Liu Weimin sat down on the stool that Hei Dan had been sitting on without any hesitation, picked up a slice of watermelon and took a bite. His fierce attitude made it seem like he was treating that slice of watermelon like a nasty little brat. But then he froze.
"Did you grow these watermelons?"
I was taken aback. What does that mean? You can taste the difference?
"Why is it so sweet?"
......
My lips twitched slightly; I thought I'd discovered something.
"Perhaps it's because the seeds are good?"
After being simply frightened, the children of Liujiatun were afraid to run near the river. Not only children, but even adults treated it like a curse before going; whether it was their parents, siblings, or wives, everyone would mutter a warning.
"Didn't I already say that those who drown are usually good swimmers? Is the only thing in the house that's lacking is a little water for you to take a bath?"
The child will also watch him intently.
“Dad, you’re being disobedient. They won’t let me go to the river anymore. If you don’t listen, I’m going to tell Uncle Weimin.”
Similar remarks came from more than one place, and for a time, the atmosphere in Liujiatun was particularly harmonious.
It wasn't that Jian Dan was lying to the children. She had planted these watermelons early, and they were gradually ripening. Although they weren't as good as the ones she had taken out the other day, cutting one open still filled the whole house with their sweet aroma.
Two days later, the two children arrived as promised. Tiger brought his younger sister, Xiaohua. Xiaohua was six years old, just like Heidan, and they were familiar with each other, so he wasn't afraid of being bullied.
"Sister Jane, we're all here to help you slice the watermelon!"
The other vegetables in the garden were still growing, and it wasn't time to "close the garden" (a common agricultural term, referring to the time when the harvest season for vegetables or fruits is about to end and the vines are being pulled up). Jian Dan didn't plan to waste any more time and cleared the path near the watermelon vines early on so that children could pass through smoothly.
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