The comrades on the inspection team were clearly pleased with the work Qin Feng and his family were doing on the Daqingshan and Xiaoqingshan mountains, fixing sand and cultivating grass. They were amused by the sight of the free-range chickens, each one bouncing around with vigor, darting in and out of nests of sedge and red willows, digging for food and catching insects.
"Qin Feng, why haven't I heard you talk about free-range chickens? They're really well-raised."
Qin Feng quickly said, "I applied for this when I applied for the village farm. I thought, this Achnatherum splendens and red willow nest is just sitting there anyway, why not raise some chickens? Firstly, it can increase our income. As you know, my family relies on exporting grain from Daqingshan and Xiaoqingshan. Secondly, we can accumulate some farmyard manure, forming a virtuous cycle. The manure nourishes the mountains, and the mountains produce more and better plant products."
"Yes, yes, this is a good approach. Any village with the conditions can do it."
The inspection team fully affirmed the practice of intercropping, grass planting and mixed ecological farming on the mountain, and said they would report it to County Magistrate Tang.
More than ten days later, Deputy Secretary Liu of the commune came to Qin Feng's home on a bicycle to inform Qin Feng and Qin Muzhou to go to the county town in three days to attend the year-end agricultural production commendation conference.
On this day, the whole family dressed up. Ke'er called Zhou Jinyan over. Li Shuwan also made a set of autumn clothes, shoes and socks for Zhou Jinyan. Ke'er asked him to wear them and go to the county town with their family.
Zhou Jinyan took the neatly folded clothes from Li Shuwan's hands, his eyes reddened, and he said to Li Shuwan, "Thank you, Auntie." He wiped his tears and went to his room to change clothes. Although Zhou Jinyan moved to the cowshed, it was better to keep it in the room in Qin Feng's house.
Early in the morning, Qin Feng drove a horse-drawn carriage into the city and came to the county government's conference room. After finding a seat, the family sat down quietly, waiting excitedly and nervously.
When Qin Feng and his son Qin Muzhou stood on the podium, wearing big red flowers on their chests, and talked about how their family managed the barren sand mountain, thunderous applause broke out from the audience below the rostrum.
Xiao Si Ke'er, Qin Muxiao and Zhou Jinyan's palms were all red from clapping, and they were all laughing so hard that their teeth were showing.
Xiao Si sat next to Li Shuwan and said, "Mom, when I grow up, I want to wear a big red flower and go on stage to receive the award."
Li Shuwan touched Xiao Si's head and encouraged him, "Okay, Mom will be waiting for our Xiao Si to bring the big red flower to receive the award."
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