Chapter 134 Return to the City
Mr. Yang woke up from his memories, with a little pain on his face.
“It was during the land reform, and a work team came to the village. Seeing the corn like this, the leader seemed to have said, let us pick seeds with large corn particles.”
“Then later What? "
Yang Xiaotao knew that there must be something wrong.
"Alas!"
Mr. Yang sighed.
“At the beginning, the harvest was indeed not small. But later”
“That year, our village picked the best corn kernels as seeds and planted them with joy.”< br>
“At the beginning, the corns were growing gratifyingly. They were taller and taller, and they would definitely be big cobs when they came to the ears.”
"But no one expected that just when the corn was growing, a storm would completely destroy it."
"All the corn was blown down. It is incomparable to the previous corn!" This time, half of the corn in the village can’t be raised.”
At this point, Mr. Yang regretted his decision that year.
“With a poor harvest, the final result is that people in the village are hungry. If it weren’t for the state’s support, half of our village’s lives would be good.”
“So, our village, including The surrounding villages all owe money to the country!”
Mr. Yang said that his eyes were red, as if tears were falling down.
"Master, it's over, let's just contribute more to the country in the future!"
Yang Xiaotao comforted, Mr. Yang nodded, and then said, "So, you think well, But don’t mess around!”
After hearing this, Yang Xiaotao hesitated for a moment, but then shook his head, because his previous school experience gave him more windows to understand the world.
I can't think of anything else, but he still knows about hybrid corn.
This involves the concept of genetic hybridization, which was included in high school textbooks in that era of information explosion.
So, he must try this kind of thing that benefits the country and the people.
Otherwise, he would not be reconciled.
He is a systematic person.
Although there are no seeds in the exchange column yet, there may not be any in the future.
Yang Xiaotao made up his mind and said to Mr. Yang.
"Master, no matter what, I want to try this."
Seeing his appearance, Mr. Yang was silent for a long time, then nodded in agreement.
He knew that the young man would not give up if he was not allowed to try.
You will know what choice to make when you hit the wall.
What's more, with him on guard, he won't let the village act like crazy.
Picking up a corn cob and carefully picking up the corn kernels, the two of them felt particularly warm at this moment.
In the afternoon, Yang Xiaotao continued to enjoy the New Year atmosphere in the village, but also paid attention to the corn planting situation of each family.
Every time I go to a house, I will look at the corns on the beams for a while. If I see a big one, I will take one. The villagers don’t ask why, they just take it if they like.
Finally, when night fell, Yang Xiaotao had found more than five kilograms of corn kernels, all of which were large.
There is also about half a pound of small grain corn.
Yang Xiaotao took the opportunity to ask the elders in the village about the habits of corn.
Everyone just thought that the people in the city were novel and told him without reservation.
Yang Xiaotao remembered it in his mind and understood that the corn was of the same female plant, with the male flower at the top and the female flower with the stick in the middle.
Planted in the ground, there is no need for artificial pollination at all, and sexual reproduction can be completed by yourself.
This is exactly what Yang Xiaotao wants. Perhaps others need manual participation in the process of studying cross-breeding, but he does not.
As long as you tell Xiaowei what you are thinking, this elf in the plant world can complete the task.
This is his greatest reliance.
At night, Yang Xiaotao and Mr. Yang cleaned up their house and steamed a pot of multigrain steamed buns.
Tomorrow morning I will get up early to visit the grave, so I will go to bed early.
As soon as he got up in the third grade of junior high school, Yang Xiaotao felt that the room was a lot colder. He stretched out his hand and tried the bottom of the bed, and it was completely cold.
I got up and got dressed, ready to add firewood to the stove, but I was shocked by the scene outside the house.
A vast expanse of white.
The house is covered with a white layer of cotton, and the white snow on the wall is like a hat on top. The occasional ups and downs in the yard represent something hidden underneath.
“It’s snowing!”
Yang Xiaotao breathed in the coldness in the air, as if the snow had a taste, an ethereal taste.
"Hurry and pack up, we have to go out soon."
Mr. Yang said and started to pick up the items.
Take out a knife of yellow paper, then take out a big black ten and press it twice.
Pinch off a small piece from each steamed bun and wrap it in yellow paper.
Finally, I took an empty bottle and filled it with a bottle of water.
This is wine.
Then he picked up a hanging white firecracker, put it in a basket, and Yang Xiaotao helped Mr. Yang out of the door.
The street is already full of people.
The people who came were all men from various families, and a few boys went with them.
The team walked in silence, the snow crunching under their feet.
The ancestral graves of Yangjiazhuang are on Nanshan Mountain. If you want to go there, you have to cross the river.
There used to be a wooden bridge, but it was later destroyed in the war and has not been repaired over the years.
Fortunately, the river can be both deep and shallow. The villagers built a road with stones, so they can usually cross the river.
In winter, there is less water and it is easier to cross the river.
It's just that it's snowing heavily now and the rocks are slippery, so you have to be careful when walking.
Yang Xiaotao carried Mr. Yang on his back, and several young and strong men also carried the old man across the river and walked a mountain road before arriving at the cemetery.
There are hundreds of graves, large and small, on this land. Some have names and are worshiped by descendants, while some have no names at all, but they also enjoy the care of Yangjiazhuang. Yang Xiaotao came to the ancestral grave, put down a knife of yellow paper, then took the remaining things and walked aside to a new grave. On the wooden sign were the words "Yang Laogen's Tomb".
Yang Xiaotao sighed in his heart, fortunately there are no ghosts in this world.
Otherwise, I don’t know if Yang Laogen would jump out of the coffin and beat him, the time traveler, to death.
After sweeping away the snow in front of the tomb, Yang Xiaotao lit the yellow paper, burned it together with the steamed buns, and finally poured the "wine" aside.
"Every year from now on, I will give you money to visit your grave."
"If you have anything to say in your dream, I will do it if you can."
Yang Xiaotao is here He said silently in his heart, and beside him, Mr. Yang had already arranged for people to kowtow.
In this era, we talk about abolishing feudalism, but can we just change the customs that have lasted for thousands of years?
Besides, this is called remembering our ancestors. In this rural area, no one dares to talk nonsense.
Yang Xiaotao kowtowed to his ancestors four times, and then kowtowed to his elders with his peers and juniors. When they arrived at Yang Laogen's grave, there were only about ten people, but they kowtowed solemnly.
After the trip, Yang Xiaotao's body was covered with mud and snow, but he felt extremely solemn.
After visiting the grave, everyone returned.
Unlike when we arrived, the journey home was filled with laughter.
Everyone was talking and laughing, walking quickly on the snow. Many children played in snowball fights and shouted lively.
On the morning of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Xiaotao packed his things.
But he is preparing to return to the city.
Work will start on the seventh day of the lunar month, and he still has to go back to visit, so he doesn’t have much time.
And he also has to go back to make preparations and put hybrid corn on the agenda.
Parting is always sad, not to mention that it feels like home just now, just like a child who has left home to work. Even though he feels extremely reluctant to leave, he has to bow his head to life.
Mr. Yang is very open-minded. At his age, he has experienced too much and his heart is broader than others.
“Go back and work hard, be worthy of the people and worthy of the motherland.”
“Don’t be sneaky, we don’t have that kind of people in Yangjiazhuang.”
"Also, don't worry about me. If anything happens, I will ask Shitou to find you."
Mr. Yang spoke openly, but said more than usual.
In just a few days, he already regarded Yang Xiaotao as his grandson, and his love for licking the calf was beyond words.
"Don't worry, Grandpa, I'll come back to see you during the Qingming Festival."
Yang Xiaotao set a time and calculated that it would only last a month or two. If everything goes well, he should be able to catch up with the spring corn. Go to the ground.
"Okay, hurry up and find a wife. It's good to have someone to take care of you. You won't have to worry about it all day long."
Yang Dazhuang also said beside him, Yang Xiaotao nodded and smiled, "I'll find one when I get back and call you Let’s have a wedding banquet.”
When everyone parted, they talked a lot.
“Go.”
“Let’s go, don’t waste time.”
After waving goodbye, Yang Xiaotao got on the donkey cart and walked towards Sijiucheng with Yang Shitou.
Just like when we arrived, there was also a pile of things piled on the donkey cart.
Corn, peanuts, and walnuts are packed in bags, containing the wishes of each household in the village.
“Let’s go. Go back!”
Two car marks were left in the snow. People in the distance were still standing in the snow. Yang Xiaotao shouted loudly, but he didn’t know if he could hear it. audible.
At noon, Yang Shitou parked the car in front of the courtyard, helped carry things back to the house, and walked back without staying long, wearing Yang Xiaotao's military coat.
It’s dark and the roads are slippery and freezing, which is why I gave you a coat.
Yang Shitou had no choice but to refuse. He happily put on his military coat, took the wine bottle that Yang Xiaotao put into his hand, and drove the donkey cart home.
I have walked this road countless times. What are the dark spots to be afraid of? We are walking at night.
The donkey walked slowly on four legs, and the people in the car were so happy that they almost fell asleep.
Just as we finished packing things here, the discussion in the courtyard started again.
The third uncle looked at the bags and baskets of things being brought in. Although they were just mountain goods, he was always worried.
It would be great if I ordered this for him.
"If you are celebrating the New Year, you should always say hello when you meet."
Seeing Yang Xiaotao pick up the yard at the door of his house, Yan Fugui rolled his eyes and hurried home.
"Daddy, what are you looking for?"
The third aunt held Yan Jiedi in her arms. It has been too cold these past two days, so the coal in the stove has not stopped, but the little daughter is a little afraid of the cold and cries when no one is around. , can’t let it go at all.
"I'm looking for Spring Festival couplets."
Yan Fugui pulled the desk and finally asked.
“I remember writing two more paintings, where did you put them?”
The third aunt remembered, "What's more, you said it will be the same every year, and no one will use it after the New Year. Didn't you light the stove yesterday!"
"Oh, you loser" "Girls."
After hearing this, Yan Fugui shouted, "Don't you know how to use it?"
The third aunt didn't say much. , holding her daughter and walking aside.
Yan Fugui had no choice but to shout to Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang who were playing in the yard, "Jiefang, go home quickly!"
Yan Jiefang, who was playing building a snowman with his brother, could not continue and ran back to the house.
"Hurry up and get it."
Yan Fugui has laid out the red paper, has the pen and ink ready, and is waiting for Yan Jiefang to support him.
“Dad, it’s already the New Year, why are you writing this?”
“What for? Huh, of course it’s useful.”
Yan Fugui replied, and after thinking for a moment, he started writing quickly. Yan Jiefang was holding a couplet on the side. Yan Jiekuang also ran in and consciously picked up the cattail leaf fan to dry it.
After a while, Yan Fugui looked at his masterpiece and nodded with satisfaction.