https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-55-One-Person-Ascends-and-All-Follow/12849159/
Chapter 56: The Orchard Planting Plan
Chapter 56: The Orchard Planting Plan
Deng Shirong climbed to the top of the hill, surveying the land as he pondered the idea of planting fruit trees on the mountain.
In his previous life, after the production team divided the hills among the households, no one in the entire Bangjie Brigade thought about planting fruit trees. Everyone was focused on the existing trees, which could be sold for money and couldn't be allowed to be stolen.
This went on for several years until one family sold all their trees and started planting fruit trees.
At first, this family only planted a few dozen trees, just a trial.
After two or three years, the trees began to bear fruit and earned a substantial amount of money, which caused a stir in the village.
From then on, the entire Naye Village entered a peak period of fruit tree planting, and Deng Shirong's family also followed the trend by planting lychee trees.
Unfortunately, due to his limited knowledge at the time, he chose the Heiye variety, which had a low economic value. A few years later, when the village's fruit trees began to bear fruit, he and many other families who had chosen Heiye lychees regretted their decision bitterly.
Compared to other varieties like Feizixiao and Baizhaying, which had smaller seeds and higher economic value, Heiye lychees were clearly less profitable.
However, it was too late to change. Cutting down the trees and replanting would not only be costly but would also waste several years. No one was willing to do that.
Moreover, no one in the village knew about grafting techniques back then. If they had, they could have changed the lychee variety through grafting.
By the time grafting techniques reached Naye Village, Deng Shirong's sons had already made a name for themselves in the city. Deng Shirong lived with them for a while, and the family's orchard was left unmanaged, gradually falling into disrepair.
Later, when Deng Shirong returned to his hometown, he had no financial pressure and thus no motivation to revive the orchard. By the time of his rebirth, the weeds in the orchard had grown taller than the lychee trees.
This time around, Deng Shirong was determined not to make the same mistake. He planned to be the first to plant lychee trees and to choose the best variety.
If one were to ask which lychee variety was the best, most people in the major lychee-producing provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian would likely mention the "Three Great Lychees."
The Three Great Lychees refer to Guilv, Guiwei, and Nuomici, the most precious lychee varieties.
Guilv, a rare variety from Zengcheng, Guangdong, was once a tribute to the imperial court during feudal times. According to records from the Qianlong era, it was originally produced in the Siwanggang area of Xintang, Zengcheng. However, by the Jiaqing era, due to the oppression of officials, the people could no longer bear the burden and cut down all the Guilv trees, leaving only one in the Xiyuan Temple in the western suburbs of the county.
This sole surviving Guilv tree is extremely precious. At the Guilv auctions in 2001 and 2002, a single fruit once fetched a price of 555,000 yuan.
Nuomici, also known as Mizi, is the most economically valuable variety in Guangdong and is renowned both domestically and internationally as the "King of Lychees."
Guiwei, also known as Guizhi, is named for its scent of osmanthus flowers. Originating from Guangdong, its inclusion among the Three Great Lychees speaks volumes about its quality.
All three of the Great Lychees come from Guangdong, which is not surprising, as Guangdong accounts for more than half of the country's lychee planting area and production, making it the world's leading lychee producer. Guangxi and Fujian come second, while Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Zhejiang-Taiwan have only limited lychee cultivation.
Deng Shirong intended to plant Guiwei, one of the Three Great Lychees.
He chose Guiwei over Guilv and Nuomici primarily because of soil considerations. Both Guilv and Nuomici have high soil requirements. While they can grow in other soils, the taste of the fruit is significantly inferior.
Guiwei, on the other hand, is a different story. It has strong adaptability to soil, is drought-resistant, and is suitable for mountain planting. Its flesh is just as good as that of Gui Lu and Nuomici, so for Deng Shirong, this choice didn't require much thought at all.
After deciding on the variety he wanted to plant, Deng Shirong's only concern was whether he could get his hands on Guiwei saplings in this era. If he could, it would be a great thing, and he could plant the fruit trees in early spring next year. If not, he would have to postpone his planting plans.
It seemed he would need to take some time to visit Lingshan County in Qinzhou, Guangxi, or the outskirts of Guangzhou, where the best Guiwei lychees are produced.
With that in mind, Deng Shirong made his way down the mountain and back home.
...
In the courtyard of the old house, Guan Yongying was squatting with Deng Yunzhen, washing vegetables.
Guan Yongying had been married into Naye Village for a month, and in that time, she had begun to adapt to her new life with her in-laws. Her parents-in-law were easy to get along with, and they got along very well. Her husband was also kind to her, so her married life was quite happy.
The matchmakers of this era were quite different from those of later times.
In later times, once the matchmaker received the thank-you gift, they would have little to do with the newlyweds.
But in this era, matchmakers maintained a relationship with the newlyweds, almost like an additional relative.
Currently, Deng Shirong's family was building a new house, and Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying, as a young couple, felt it was their duty to help out.
" Auntie Yunzhen, it's Shuangwang Market Day tomorrow. Are you going?" Guan Yongying asked as she washed the vegetables.
Deng Yunzhen shook her head. "I'm not sure yet. If my father doesn't go out tomorrow, I'll have time to go. If he does, I'll have to stay home and cook, so I won't have time to go to the market."
Guan Yongying said, "Wait until Grandpa Jiu comes back and ask him. If you have time to go to the market tomorrow, I'll go with you."
Deng Yunzhen nodded and smiled. "Alright, I'll ask my father when he comes back. Is there something you need to buy at the market?"
Guan Yongying placed the washed vegetables in a bamboo basket and said, "Since I have nothing else to do, I thought I'd go to the supply cooperative to buy some yarn to knit sweaters for my in-laws."
Deng Yunzhen understood. As a new bride, Guan Yongying wanted to show her filial piety by knitting sweaters for her in-laws, which was a very appropriate gesture.
Thinking about it, Deng Yunzhen felt a bit envious. "Knitting sweaters sounds great. You've got me thinking about buying some yarn to knit with you, but I'm still busy making clothes for my father and brothers, so I don't have time to knit sweaters."
Guan Yongying encouraged her, "Auntie Yunzhen, let's buy the yarn together. Once we get it, I can help you finish your clothes first. It's still a while before the weather gets cold, so it won't be too late to knit sweaters later."
Deng Yunzhen hesitated. "That would take up too much of your time!"
Guan Yongying waved it off. "It's no trouble at all. I have nothing else to do anyway, and making a few clothes won't take long."
Deng Yunzhen thought about it and nodded. "Alright, I'll talk to my father when he comes back. We'll go to Shuangwang Market with you tomorrow to buy the yarn."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
