Chapter 48: Teacher Yuan

Chapter 48: Teacher Yuan

June is generally considered a relatively idle time in agriculture. Normally, people would go to the fields to hoe and weed, tend to the spring crops and summer corn, and mainly manage the cotton fields—hoeing, weeding, applying pesticides, catching pests, pruning side branches, and topping the plants. Additionally, they organized the commune members to dredge the riverbeds, clean the mud, and compost it for preparing the soil for planting winter wheat in autumn.

The brigade wasn't as busy, allowing the commune members to take leave and visit relatives. Those planning engagements or weddings could also proceed without waiting until the end of the year.

This was usually the case, but this year, the Forward Brigade was different—they were quite busy.

Indeed, Brigade Chief Tang Bingde was convening another meeting to assign new tasks.

"We need to go to West Mountain to find saplings—things like prickly ash, wolfberry, sour jujube, cotton locust, and licorice. If anyone has sweet and large jujube trees, they can send saplings to the brigade; we'll record the work points." Tang Bingde listed all the medicinal fruit trees suggested by Tang Yuan, adding wolfberry, which he believed to be useful.

Every time Liu Guangming returned from the county, he brought wolfberry and wild chrysanthemum for Secretary Liu, saying that drinking water infused with them was good for health.

Wolfberry is a medicine, actually a common dogwood shrub in the countryside.

Tang Yuan suggested that Tang Bingde plant cotton locust and licorice in large patches on slopes, along ditches, rivers, field edges, cliffs, and around exposed square ponds and round wells.

These two types of plants are cheap and easy to grow, capable of preventing soil erosion and stabilizing slopes. They also have medicinal uses, can serve as feed for livestock and poultry, can be used as green manure, and can be made into baskets, crates, and fences.

Their applications are incredibly diverse.

Upon hearing this, Tang Bingde thought it was a great idea. How could he not have thought of something so simple before?

Preventing soil erosion and stabilizing slopes is crucial, especially for those living at the foot of the mountain.

It's also necessary to protect the square ponds and round wells.

In the 1950s, the nation embarked on a fervent campaign to construct water conservancy projects, with the Forward Brigade being no exception. They excavated man-made rivers and ponds and established wells in areas devoid of natural watercourses.

Some of these square ponds and round wells were left bare in the middle of the fields, with no protection. During the flood season, they often filled up halfway or even to the brim, their greenish-blue waters making passersby uneasy, fearing they might fall in.

Especially those in the fields, with only narrow paths between the crops and the wells, making it difficult to avoid stepping into the wells. The wells were dug without stone walls, and over time, the edges would collapse.

Every year, there were reports of people falling into the wells, both children and adults.

Those round wells had no climbing spots, making it hard to get out once someone fell in.

It was indeed very dangerous!

Planting a protective ring around them would automatically keep people and livestock away and prevent the soil around the wells from sliding down.

The entire Forward Brigade was swept up in the enthusiasm of collecting saplings, planting them, and sowing seeds.

When the Leap Forward Brigade heard about it, Captain Chen approached Tang Bingde, "Brother Tang, is there anything we can help with?"

Previously, during the wheat harvest, Chen Fada felt deeply remorseful when it rained and couldn't harvest the wheat. He came to apologize and thank Tang Bingde, admitting his mistakes and asking Tang Bingde not to be angry with him and to continue including him in future activities.

Hearing that Tang Bingde had a new initiative, he naturally wanted to offer help and learn.

Tang Bingde didn't hide anything and shared his plans, "We don't need your help. You should go back and enclose your wells too."

Chen Fada readily agreed, "By the way, our brigade has a mountain hollow full of cotton locust and licorice. I'll have some sent over."

Tang Bingde replied straightforwardly, "No need. We'll just go and cut them ourselves."

These plants can be propagated through cuttings or seeds, so there's no need to dig them up with roots.

Seeing that Tang Bingde wasn't cold towards him, Chen Fada felt relieved and laughed heartily again.

He took out his tobacco pouch, wanting to share a smoke with Tang Bingde to foster their friendship.

Tang Bingde glanced at him, "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

Chen Fada paused, then put the tobacco back, "Ah, right, I'll head back then."

Sigh, Old Tang is really stingy, never inviting him for a meal.

He watched Tang Bingde lock a stack of papers in a drawer, curious but unable to see what it was.

That was the map of the Forward Brigade's farmland drawn by Tang Yuan, which Tang Bingde treasured.

Worried that the paper might tear easily, he bought a roll of rice paper to reframe it and redrew it with a steel pen and colored pencils to prevent the ink from fading over time.

He kept it locked in the drawer, not allowing others to touch it casually.

While Tang Bingde and his team were busy, some were skeptical.

Secretary Liu supported the trial planting of rice but disagreed with planting jujube trees in the fields.

He approached Tang Bingde, "Brother Tang, big trees attract wind and have deep roots. How can crops grow under such trees? Won't they all die?"

With such big roots, all the nutrients would be absorbed, leaving no room for crops to grow.

Tang Bingde responded, "When the trees are small, it doesn't matter. As they grow, the crops will be planted farther away, with minimal impact."

He relayed the knowledge he learned from Tang Yuan to Secretary Liu.

Secretary Liu frowned, "I don't think it's a good idea."

People usually planted trees away from field edges and vegetable gardens, preferring to plant them near houses and courtyards.

Tang Bingde didn't want to argue further. He had already explained it to the production team leaders, who accepted it. There was no need to convince Secretary Liu.

Besides, he didn't do any fieldwork!

He cited Ji Hongyue, "This is the professional advice of Cadre Ji."

He also suspected that Ji Hongyue was not Tang Yuan's fish spirit.

But if Ji Hongyue wasn't the reason, it would be hard to explain Tang Yuan's change. So he pretended to be confused and pushed the matter onto Ji Hongyue.

In any case, Ji Hongyue wouldn't clarify it.

Sure enough, mentioning Ji Hongyue made Secretary Liu go silent.

Secretary Liu sighed, sounding quite old and frail, "Sigh, I'm getting old, too old to be of much use."

People don't listen to him anymore.

Tang Bingde: "Brother Liu, I remember your in-laws' village has an orchard with some good jujube trees. Would you like to help the brigade get some saplings?"

Yes, get them for free, not buy them.

The Forward Brigade is poor and has no money; if they can get something for free, they will, even if it means repaying with jujubes later.

Secretary Liu: "..."

Tang the Penny-Pincher is still Tang the Penny-Pincher.

He didn't refuse, "Alright, I'll ask. If I can still help the brigade, I will definitely do so."

Tang Bingde flattered him, "Secretary, don't talk like that. You are the backbone of our Forward Brigade, our leader. Everyone relies on you."

Seeing that Tang Bingde still respected him as before except for farming, Secretary Liu felt more at ease.

Tang Xiang, however, was very unhappy about this. She had planned to take leave during the farming off-season to do some business with Song Huazhang, but now the brigade wanted her to dig up tree saplings again.

Who came up with such a stupid idea?

Could it be Tang Yuan again?

What's wrong with Tang Yuan? First, she urged the brigade to plant rice, and now she wants fruit trees in the fields.

She hasn't seen anyone planting crops in an orchard. Even in her previous life, when she went picking with her parents, the orchards didn't have any crops.

Who is Ji Hongyue, and why does he help Tang Yuan so much?

She was really curious but failed to find out when she tried a few days ago.

She and Tong Xue went to see the rice fields, hoping to get closer to Ji Hongyue, but he kept his distance from female comrades, staying far away.

She couldn't help but complain to Tong Xue, "Pfft, I think those fifty acres of paddy fields are going to be wasted. Now they're messing around with fruit trees and crops together. It's all going to be for nothing."

Everyone knows that fruit trees compete with crops for nutrients. Without enough fertilizer, it's all for naught.

Tong Xue, however, didn't care at all. She only accompanied Tang Xiang because she didn't want to do extra work. She was focused on how to return to the city and improve her situation. Whether the brigade planted crops or did something else was irrelevant to her.

Hearing Tang Xiang grumble, she smiled, "Are you jealous of Tang Yuan?"

Tang Xiang was taken aback and denied it outright, "Nonsense, why would I be jealous of her?"

What's there to be jealous of about Tang Yuan, who's just a firecracker?

Tang Yuan is tall and skinny, with no curves, and her skin isn't particularly fair and smooth. At most, her legs are a bit longer and straighter. What else?

As for intelligence and studies, there's even less to be jealous of.

Jealous of her dating Feng Chen?

She couldn't care less!

Is Song Huazhang not better looking than Feng Chen?

Song Huazhang is someone who would stand out even in modern entertainment circles, and he's not effeminate.

Feng Chen... okay, she admits he's also a handsome guy with a better physique, but... he's blind!

She suspected Tang Yuan might have learned some voodoo tricks from Ji Hongyue to bewitch Feng Chen, or maybe Feng Chen really is blind.

To hide her unease, she declared firmly, "They're just wasting their time. Wait and see, the rice won't bear grain, and the fruit trees and crops won't grow well!"

Ever since she crossed over, she had developed a strange confidence, or rather, an uncertain power. Things and people she disliked always ended up in trouble.

For example, she once said her second brother was a bit obsessive and would cause trouble if he kept thinking about his wife. And sure enough, he ended up with a scene with Tong Xue.

She also said Tang Yuan was too hot-tempered and would cause trouble, and indeed, she did go crazy, though not completely.

And her sister-in-law, whom she thought was outwardly generous but inwardly calculating, would also cause trouble eventually.

Everything she predicted came true.

So, saying the rice won't bear grain and the fruit trees and crops won't grow well will surely come true too.

If Tang Yuan heard this, she wouldn't be angry. Even if the rice isn't fully matured, it's not due to Tang Xiang's curse but rather the soil being unsuitable.

The fruit trees and crops, however, will definitely grow well. This is based on her personal experience with poverty alleviation.

She and Feng Chen didn't help the brigade find tree saplings; instead, they planned to return to the mountains.

Ji Hongyue also wanted to go.

The rice in the brigade was growing well, and he didn't need to watch it every day. He wanted to check out the mountains.

Mainly, he was curious about what Tang Yuan and Feng Chen were doing in the mountains. Cough, not in that way, but to see what secret production they were engaged in and if there was anything he could learn from them.

Initially, he thought he'd have to argue with Feng Chen for a while, but this time, Feng Chen agreed readily.

Ji Hongyue couldn’t quite believe it. Was he really being so agreeable all of a sudden?

When they reached the bottom of the mountain and he looked up, he nearly fainted on the spot.

No way!

Climb from here?

This wasn’t being agreeable; this was trying to kill him!

Fortunately, the expert didn’t actually want him dead. While he wasn’t as attentive as he was with Tang Yuan, he wouldn’t leave him behind either.

He received the same treatment as Tang Yuan, able to use the safety rope system, but only after Tang Yuan went up first.

He was worried sick. "Feng Chen, I’m much heavier than Yuanyuan. Will this harness hold me?"

Feng Chen: "Don’t worry. It’s reinforced with steel wire and very strong vines. It can handle two of you easily."

Ji Hongyue suspected that Feng Chen was just trying to reassure him. Where could Feng Chen get steel-reinforced ropes in the countryside?

The rope looked strange, not like something made by a proper manufacturer.

It must be his personal stash.

But Ji Hongyue was still a young man full of passion, having faced danger before. He had been adventurous even as a child. Climbing a mountain shouldn’t scare him now.

I’ll climb!

Of course, Feng Chen had to pull him up several times during the ascent, eventually lifting him like a bucket of water.

Ji Hongyue collapsed at the cave entrance, asking Feng Chen to drag him inside since his limbs were too tired to move.

"Feng Chen, can’t you find a place with a slightly less steep incline? This is almost vertical, it’s terrifying."

Feng Chen: "Other areas are either cliffs or even steeper."

After hauling Ji Hongyue up, he still had to go back down for their luggage.

Ji Hongyue watched in amazement.

What kind of stamina was this?

If he joined the military, wouldn’t he rise through the ranks quickly? Even if he didn’t become a battalion commander soon, he’d certainly be a top soldier.

And yet, he was content to farm in the mountains?

Because Ji Hongyue was with them, they took longer than expected. By the time they descended from the north side, it was completely dark.

Tang Yuan had come down earlier and started a large bonfire next to the cave, using herbs to fumigate it, then starting a fire to warm the bed and cook dinner.

Sure enough, two snakes slithered out of the cave.

Fortunately, they were harmless grass snakes.

With the expert hunting for meat and a small lake nearby for fish, Tang Yuan didn’t want to eat snake anymore.

She planned to feed the snakes to the wild chickens tomorrow.

Dinner was simple—coarse grain porridge with diced smoked meat and a small pot of blanched vegetables.

It provided carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins, making it a balanced meal.

Ji Hongyue’s legs were still shaking when he came down. He didn’t bother checking out the changes in the valley and instead sat by the fire, complaining to Tang Yuan.

"For a moment, I really thought I would fall to my death."

Tang Yuan giggled, scooping a bowl of cooled porridge for him. "Quickly, replenish your strength."

Ji Hongyue was curious. "Aren’t you scared?"

Tang Yuan: "I trust Feng Chen. He’s very capable. If he says it’s safe, it definitely is."

He carried her up the mountain without hesitation but didn’t take her across swollen streams carelessly.

Ji Hongyue gave them a thumbs-up. "You two are truly meant for each other!"

Tang Yuan’s cheeks turned slightly red. She coughed lightly and said confidently, "That’s right. We’re engaged."

She and the expert had a fake engagement, but everyone else believed it was real, so she couldn’t let on.

Ji Hongyue winked at Feng Chen.

Feng Chen ignored him, appreciating the compliment about them being a perfect match. He washed his hands and feet and came over to eat.

Seeing a wild chicken egg in his bowl but none in Tang Yuan’s, he transferred the egg to her bowl.

Tang Yuan refused. "You expended a lot of energy climbing. You should eat more."

There was only one egg left in the cave, but fortunately, it hadn’t gone bad, so she boiled it.

Feng Chen gently split the egg in half and placed the larger yolk portion in Tang Yuan’s bowl.

Ji Hongyue watched in astonishment, then glanced at his own bowl. He felt excluded!

These two were too sweet!

Had they taken their fake relationship to a real one?

After dinner, Feng Chen asked Ji Hongyue to wash the dishes and pots while he helped Tang Yuan dry out all the bedding to remove any dampness.

These past few days saw two heavy rains. Although the cave wouldn't flood, it still became damp, as moisture would seep in from the inside.

Ji Hongyue looked at Feng Chen's domesticated good-man appearance and felt a bit disoriented.

He wasn't this attentive at home.

But he didn't dare to voice his opinion, lest Feng Chen make him sleep in the small cave.

At least now he could still sleep near the boss.

Although climbing mountains was tiring, they were all young with good sleep quality, so one night's rest would restore their energy.

The next morning, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, Tang Yuan woke up. The valley was filled with the chirping of birds, making it hard to fall back asleep.

Ji Hongyue naturally couldn't sleep in either; Feng Chen didn't bring him here to laze around. As soon as it was light, he was woken up by a pat.

Ji Hongyue stretched and walked out of the cave, stunned speechless by the sight before him.

Was this still the valley he had come to before?

The bird songs made the valley seem even more serene. Below, the lake was like a mirror, the water fields were neatly divided, and wildflowers flourished.

Streams flowed from the spring near the cave, fish swam in the small pond, and there were vegetable plots and flower beds below.

The flower beds looked casual, as if dug randomly, with some unknown wildflowers and grasses blooming in purple, red, pink, white, and yellow.

He couldn't help but start reciting "Peach Blossom Spring."

Feng Chen, however, handed him a machete, "Go chop bamboo."

He didn't bring you here to enjoy the scenery.

This time, Feng Chen brought Ji Hongyue for work.

Tang Yuan had made many plans: transplanting medicinal herbs, fruit trees, and other plants like goji berries, jujubes, Sichuan pepper, and oil trees.

They also needed to build a bamboo raft.

Now, he didn't want Tang Yuan doing these rough tasks. The more he understood her, the more he felt she resembled the researchers from the agricultural college in the previous world.

They wore lab coats and smart helmets, studying and caring for precious plants without ever venturing into dangerous industries.

Since Tang Yuan didn't have a smart helmet, she could wear a straw hat, tie a handkerchief, carry her notebook and pen, and inspect things.

Hearing that they were going to chop bamboo and build a raft, Tang Yuan didn't want to cook alone, so she asked Feng Chen to bring a double-eared iron pot and an appropriate amount of food to cook on-site.

Then Feng Chen caught a few fat bamboo rats in the bamboo forest, cleaned them, and stewed them in a pot.

Tang Yuan picked mushrooms nearby.

Summer rains were abundant, and each rain brought a mushroom feast, growing densely together. Finding one meant finding a whole patch.

While the local mushrooms weren't as diverse as those in the south, wild mushrooms were always delicious.

Tang Yuan only picked the ones she knew were safe, avoiding any she wasn't familiar with to prevent any accidents, as there was no omnipotent Yunnan hospital here.

Besides mushrooms, there were various wild vegetables. Though most were old, new tender leaves and hearts could be picked.

Most wild vegetables were medicinal, each with its own benefits—either cooling the body or reducing swelling.

It took them two days to build the bamboo raft, then they used vines to bind it and weighted it down in the water to soak for another two days, ensuring it wouldn't fall apart before testing it.

For two more days, they worked in the rice fields, where the main weeds were barnyard grass.

Barnyard grass competed with rice for nutrients, so they had to pull it out whenever they saw it.

Ji Hongyue recognized this weed and helped Feng Chen check the fields, not letting Tang Yuan get wet.

Afterward, they planted the necessary saplings and fruit trees in the newly cleared fields and transplanted some medicinal herbs in the designated mixed farming plots.

They found a few wild yams and marked them.

After several days of work, Ji Hongyue felt more exhausted than ever.

Lying on the ground, panting heavily, he sighed, "Farmers really do have it tough."

When he truly has the power to govern a county, he vowed to treat farmers better.

He wouldn't belittle them for their lack of education or being tied to the land, nor would he exploit them.

Agriculture is the foundation of the nation.

Farmers are the cornerstone of the country.

He swore he would never break this vow.

Sitting on the ground, Tang Yuan rested and laughed, "No profession is easy. If everyone held a grievance-sharing conference, everyone would have their share of complaints."

Workers suffer too; some single-income families live in tiny ten-square-meter rooms, feeling they are the most unfortunate.

Rural officials also suffer, feeling the pressure from superiors and dealing with unenlightened farmers, often living in rural areas like farmers themselves.

Urban officials also suffer, feeling overworked, underpaid, and constantly facing the risk of scrutiny.

Everyone sees their own hardships and feels them deeply, amplifying their own pain while others' struggles seem lighter, mere words and tears, impossible to fully empathize with.

So grassroots officials need to immerse themselves in the lives of farmers like Ji Hongyue, understanding their hardships to appreciate their difficulties.

Leaders who can empathize downward are true leaders.

Only by focusing on the superior's moods can one be considered merely a good subordinate.

Tang Yuan poked Ji Hongyue's head and praised him, "Comrade Ji, I believe you will definitely be a good official who cares for the people. In the future, the annals of Binxian County should have a vivid portrayal of you."

Ji Hongyue: "Don't praise me yet; I haven't done anything substantial yet."

Tang Yuan: "Didn't we get rice in our brigade? That was all thanks to you. You can't dismiss your achievements as small. Some officials, despite their positions, do nothing beneficial for the people, only causing harm. You, however, have brought us tangible benefits."

Even the smallest benefit is an achievement if someone benefits from it.

Ji Hongyue felt his spirits lift.

Tang Yuan was truly magical; no matter how frustrated he felt, talking with her always lifted his mood.

He felt she could be his teacher.

Feng Chen planted the last sour jujube sapling and said to the two, "We still have time; let's try the bamboo raft."

Tang Yuan got up, patted the dirt off her bottom, and happily followed him.

Lying on the ground, Ji Hongyue decided to retract his earlier praise for Tang Yuan—this girl had no manners!

Good thing Feng Chen didn't mind the details and valued her inner qualities, or else he would have been scared away!

He got up, wiped the dirt off his face haphazardly, and followed them.

Sitting on the bamboo raft, Tang Yuan marveled once again at how capable Feng Chen was. Was there anything he couldn't do?

Cutting bamboo, assembling the raft, and then effortlessly controlling its speed and direction in the water.

How could you be so skilled!

She sat on a small wooden stool on the raft, looking up at Feng Chen with a smile, giving him a big thumbs-up!

Feng Chen looked down at her, his eyes crinkling in a smile.

Ji Hongyue: "…"

What am I doing here?

I shouldn't be on this raft; I should be in the water.

After a while, he heard Tang Yuan humming a song, "Little bamboo raft floats in the river, majestic green mountains walk along both banks... Heavy revolutionary burdens on our shoulders, the Party's teachings in our hearts..."

He clapped, "That sounds nice! What song is that?"

Tang Yuan was surprised, "You've never heard it?"

Ji Hongyue shook his head.

Tang Yuan realized that "The Red Star Shines Brightly" hadn't been released yet, so she evaded the question vaguely.

Ji Hongyue didn't press further but memorized those few lines, finding them particularly moving.

The next morning, before dawn, they went hunting in the mountains. The night before, Tang Yuan had prepared plenty of dry rations. On the third day, before dawn, they set off downstream on the bamboo raft.

Due to recent heavy rains during the flood season, several reservoirs nearby were releasing water, causing the mountain streams to rise significantly.

This made it convenient for them to directly paddle to Shibancun.

They just needed to follow the current and make a turn, then follow the large river at the foot of the mountain.

Encountering strong currents was no problem with Feng Chen around, and they spent a night on the shore. The next evening, as the sun turned red and hung low over West Mountain, they arrived at the foot of Shibancun.

Once again, they received a warm welcome from the villagers, especially the children, who ran home to call their parents.

Song Jinbao rushed down to greet his brother Zheng.

Song Jinbao's sun-tanned skin gleamed, making his teeth appear even whiter. He greeted them enthusiastically, "Brother Zheng, Sister-in-law, why did you take so long? I waited at the foot of the mountain after the wheat harvest, but in vain for several days."

Feng Chen, disliking idle chatter, briefly explained that the rain delayed the wheat harvest, and they had been busy plowing and planting afterward. Now, things were slightly easier, allowing him to take leave.

He introduced Ji Hongyue, mentioning only his surname, Lin.

Ji Hongyue's mother's surname was Lin.

Song Jinbao smiled and greeted them, then asked Feng Chen, "Did your brigade's wheat get wet?"

Feng Chen: "Just a bit at the end."

Song Jinbao: "That's great. When I went to the commune to buy supplies, I heard that many villages' wheat was ruined by the heavy rain. Their rainfall was much heavier than ours. Oh, not meeting the public grain quota must be terrible."

After exchanging pleasantries with Feng Chen, he spoke to Tang Yuan and Ji Hongyue.

"Sister-in-law, you came at the right time. Our village has been grinding new wheat flour together these past few days, making dumplings and large steamed buns for offerings. We'll make sure you eat well."

Tang Yuan smiled, "It looks like another bumper wheat harvest for you. Congratulations."

They entered Shibancun, laughing and chatting.

Although Song Jinbao was smiling, Tang Yuan sensed something... strange about the village's atmosphere.

The last time she visited, it was during the busy farming season, and the villagers seemed relaxed. This time, however, the passersby looked worried, and some even appeared tense.

What had happened in the village?