The village meeting was held in the village's ancestral hall, which was packed with villagers. Lin Yue stood at the front, looked at the villagers below, took a deep breath, and began her explanation.
"Dear uncles, aunts, and grandmas, our decision to introduce new crops this time is the result of careful consideration. As you all know, our village has always mainly grown a limited variety of crops, and if we encounter natural disasters or market changes, our income will be greatly affected." Lin Yue's clear and loud voice echoed in the ancestral hall.
She picked up the prepared sorghum and soybean samples and showed them to everyone: "These are the sorghum and soybean varieties we want to introduce. This sorghum is drought-resistant, has low soil requirements, and has a high yield. This soybean has high nutritional value and can improve soil fertility, which will benefit our future planting."
The villagers looked at the unfamiliar seeds; some whispered among themselves, while others seemed lost in thought.
An old man stood up and asked, "Young lady, you say this new crop is good, but we've never grown it before. What if we don't know how to plant it? If it dies, we'll have no food to eat." His eyes revealed worry, and the wrinkles on his face deepened with his furrowed brow.
Lin Yue replied with a smile, "Grandpa, you don't need to worry about that. We will teach everyone how to plant it, from sowing to fertilizing and weeding. We will guide you through every step. Moreover, we will first try planting it on a small plot of land. If the trial is successful, then it's not too late for everyone to follow suit."
Chen Yu also stood up and said, "Don't worry, everyone. We will share the risks with you. We will participate in the entire trial planting process and will not let your hard work go to waste."
After some discussion, the villagers' attitudes gradually softened, and they decided to support Lin Yue and Chen Yu's plan.
In the days that followed, Lin Yue and Chen Yu began preparing for the trial planting. They led several educated youths and villagers to the hillside and started turning the soil. Lin Yue held a hoe and turned the soil with all her might. Although her movements were not as skillful as the villagers', every stroke was full of power.
"Everyone, please pay attention. When turning the soil, try to break up the clods as much as possible. This will help the seeds germinate," Lin Yue said to everyone as she turned the soil. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and slid down her cheeks, but her eyes remained focused.
Chen Yu stood by, directing everyone to divide the planting areas. Holding ropes and wooden stakes, he carefully measured: "Plant sorghum here, soybeans there, and make sure to leave drainage ditches between each area." His voice was steady and powerful, giving people a sense of reliability.
On the day of sowing, the villagers all came to the hillside. Lin Yue distributed sorghum seeds to everyone and carefully explained the sowing method: "Everyone, scatter the seeds evenly in the furrows, not too densely or too sparsely, and then gently cover them with a layer of soil." She demonstrated as she spoke.
The villagers followed Lin Yue's method, their eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness. One elderly woman, while sowing seeds, murmured, "I hope these new seeds will grow well; let's not let the children's efforts go to waste."
After sowing, it was time to wait for the seeds to sprout. Every day, Lin Yue would come to the hillside to check the soil moisture. She would pinch a handful of soil and feel its dryness and wetness.
“The weather has been quite dry lately, so we need to water it a little, but not too much, or the seeds will spoil,” Lin Yue said to Chen Yu, a hint of worry in her eyes as she glanced at the newly planted soil from time to time.
Chen Yu nodded: "I've already arranged for people to come and check every day, and we'll take action as soon as there's a problem."
Days passed, and finally, to everyone's anticipation, the seeds began to sprout. Tender green shoots emerged from the soil, like tiny lives breaking through the earth. Lin Yue's eyes lit up with surprise as she saw the sprouting seedlings, and she excitedly exclaimed, "Chen Yu, look! They've sprouted! They've sprouted!"
Chen Yu ran over, looked at the scattered greenery, and a relieved smile appeared on his face: "That's great, Yue'er. It seems our efforts haven't been in vain."
However, new problems arose. Some seedlings were pecked at by unknown birds, and others were attacked by insects. Lin Yue looked at the damaged seedlings with heartache, her brows furrowed.
"We have to find a way to protect these seedlings; we can't let them be destroyed like this," Lin Yue said anxiously.
Chen Yu immediately organized the villagers to make some simple scarecrows and stick them in the fields to scare away birds. At the same time, they used wood ash and some homemade insect repellent to control pests.
Under everyone's careful care, the seedlings of the new crops gradually grew, sprouting tender green leaves and sturdy stems. The sorghum seedlings stood tall in the breeze, while the soybean seedlings were lush and verdant. Seeing these thriving new crops, the villagers' worries gradually dissipated, replaced by anticipation of a bountiful harvest.
This attempt to introduce new crops was not only a challenge to the unknown, but also a process of unity and exploration by Lin Yue, Chen Yu, and the villagers. Everyone contributed their hard work and sincere emotions, hoping that these new crops would bring new hope and vitality to the village.
As the new crops grew, they became a new sight in the village and a hot topic of conversation among the villagers. After school, children would run to the edge of the hillside, curiously watching the crops that were different from before, their eyes filled with wonder. Lin Yue and Chen Yu continued to protect the growth of the new crops in this field of hope, writing a new chapter in the village's development.
During an inspection of the new crop's growth, Lin Yue noticed that some sorghum seedlings had yellowing leaves. Her heart tightened, and she immediately squatted down to examine them closely. Gently stroking the yellowed leaves, her eyes were filled with worry: "Chen Yu, look at these sorghum seedlings, their leaves are turning yellow. This could be a problem with soil fertility or pests and diseases. We need to find the cause quickly."
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