The morning sun shone as brightly as ever on this hopeful little village, yet today the village was bustling with a different kind of activity. A cooperation agreement for the new crops with outsiders had been reached, a piece of news that swept through the hearts of every villager like a spring breeze, bringing boundless anticipation for the future, as well as a flurry of busy and productive preparations.
Lin Yue got up early. Standing in her yard, she gazed at the newly harvested fields in the distance, her eyes filled with both anticipation and a hint of worry. She knew that from this moment on, every step was crucial, concerning the development of the entire village and the livelihoods of the villagers. Lin Yue wore a light blue coarse cloth shirt, which she had sewn herself. The cuffs and collar were slightly faded, but it was impeccably clean. Her hair was neatly tied back, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks, swaying gently in the breeze. Her face showed slight fatigue; after all, she had worried a lot about the cooperation lately, but her eyes shone with determination—a power that forged ahead towards a goal.
Chen Yu came out of the house, holding two steaming sweet potatoes, and handed one to Lin Yue. "Yue'er, eat something. We're going to be busy today," he said, looking at Lin Yue with concern in his eyes. Chen Yu was a burly man, wearing a dark, old jacket that revealed glimpses of his muscular physique. His face was tanned a deep bronze by the sun, his features strong and defined, his deep eyes like a bottomless lake, calm and composed. He knew the preparations ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to face them with Lin Yue, for the village, and for their home.
Lin Yue took the sweet potato, took a small bite, but her thoughts drifted to the work that was about to begin. "Hmm, we need to arrange the packaging first. This new crop is delicate, and it would be troublesome if it was damaged during transportation if the packaging wasn't done properly." She muttered to herself as she chewed the sweet potato, her brows furrowing slightly, already conceiving a packaging plan in her mind.
After finishing breakfast, the two headed towards the village square in the center. A considerable number of villagers had already gathered there, engaged in lively discussion. The village chief, standing on a small hill, saw Lin Yue and Chen Yu arrive and said loudly, "Everyone, quiet down! Today we're going to start preparing for the packaging and transportation of the new crops. This is a crucial step in our cooperation with outsiders, and we all need to take it seriously. Lin Yue, you tell us the specifics of how to do it." The village chief's eyes showed trust; he knew Lin Yue was meticulous and resourceful, and at this critical moment, she could lead everyone to make the necessary preparations.
Lin Yue stepped forward, cleared her throat, and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, our new crop is a treasure, so the packaging must be meticulous. We need to prepare some soft hay to separate the new crop into layers to prevent them from crushing each other. Then we'll pack them into thick burlap sacks, clearly labeling the contents and weight on the outside of each sack." As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, looking intently at each villager to make sure everyone understood.
A young villager asked, "Sister Lin Yue, where do we get the hay? How much do we need to prepare?" He scratched his head, his eyes filled with doubt.
Lin Yue smiled slightly and replied, "We can cut hay from the mountain behind the village. Everyone will go in groups and be quick. As for the quantity, we'll prepare one-third of a bag of hay for each bag of crops, and adjust as needed." Her tone was firm and confident, which gradually calmed the villagers' initial worries.
Without further ado, the villagers split into several groups, grabbed sickles and ropes, and headed up the mountain behind the village. Lin Yue and Chen Yu joined one of the groups. They walked along the winding mountain path, sunlight filtering through the leaves and dappling the ground. Lin Yue bent down and began cutting grass. Her movements were skilled and light, each cut bringing down a large handful of dry grass. "When you're cutting, be careful not to dig up the roots. That way, new grass can grow on the mountain next year," Lin Yue reminded the villagers around her as she cut. Beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead, but her eyes remained focused. She knew that this dry grass was the first line of defense for protecting the new crops.
Chen Yu was nearby; he was strong and cut the grass even faster. He bundled the cut grass into bundles, carried them on his shoulder, and said to the villagers beside him with a smile, "Brothers, give it your all! This hay is the 'guardian angel' of our new crops. With it, our treasure can be safely transported out!" His laughter echoed through the mountains, bringing strength to everyone.
After a morning of hard work, the villagers had cut enough hay and transported it back to the village. Next came packing the new crops; the square was piled high with both new crops and hay, a bustling scene. Lin Yue picked up a stalk of new crop and demonstrated how to lay hay at the bottom of a sack, then carefully place the new crop inside, and fill the surrounding area with more hay. "Look everyone, you have to put them like this—not too crowded, not too loose. Make sure each stalk has enough space so it doesn't wobble," she explained, meticulously demonstrating, her eyes focused as if the world consisted only of herself and the new crops before her.
An elderly woman was packing hay nearby, her movements a little clumsy, always managing to misplace it. Seeing this, Lin Yue went over and patiently said, "Auntie, don't worry, come on, like this." She took the woman's hand and guided her step-by-step on how to arrange the hay and new crops. The woman looked at Lin Yue gratefully, "Lin Yue, thank goodness for you. If you hadn't taught me so carefully, this old senile woman really wouldn't know what to do." Lin Yue smiled and replied, "Auntie, don't say that. This is all for the good of our village. If everyone works together, we'll definitely succeed."
During the packing process, the villagers chatted and laughed, helping each other. Children ran around, helping the adults pass hay and new crops, filling the square with vitality. Although everyone was tired, smiles radiated from their faces, reflecting their anticipation for a better future.
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